BC Wildlife Service places area restriction order for Sitkum Creek wildfire
By Nelson Daily Staff
While the Sitkum Creek Wildfire continues to grow — now estimated at 450 hectares — the BC Wildlife Service is placing a public access restriction for areas around the interface fire that takes place immediately.
The bans will remain in force until the public is otherwise notified for the wildfire that is now 20 percent contained.
“This restriction is being put in place to protect the safety of the public and firefighting personnel,” said a BC Wildlife Service media release.
This area restriction order applies to Crown land within the geographic boundaries outlined below:
- All Crown land west of Sitkum Creek from the first switchback on the Sitkum Alpine Forest Service Road.
- All Crown land north of the private properties south of fire N70261 (Sitkum Creek).
- All Crown land east of Duhamel Creek from District Lot 10423, District Lot 9835 and District Lot 8411.
- All Crown land within one kilometre north of the fire from Sitkum Creek west and over the height of land to Duhamel Creek.
A map of the affected areas is available online.
The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) Emergency Operations Centre is continuing its evacuation alert concerning the wildfire burning on the North Shore outside of Nelson.
Approximately 350 residents in the area between Sitkum Creek South and Willow Point (Six Mile Lakes Road) have been given the evacuation alert notice.
The alert is for residents in the area between Sitkum Creek South and Willow Point (Six Mile Lakes Road) are affected by this precautionary measure, due to erratic wind conditions. Residents will be notified should conditions worsen.
The RDCK EOC evacuation alert is one of six ongoing in the province.
The others include:
- Puntzi Lake wildfire, northwest of Williams Lake, affecting 20 homes.
- Tsulquate Creek wildfire, northwest of Port Hardy, affecting 100 homes.
- Two Alerts for the wildfire in the Harrogate area, north of Highway 95, between Harrogate and Brisco, affecting 50 homes.
- Petitot River wildfire, northeast of Fort Nelson, affecting an oil and gas camp.
The Sitkum Creek wildfire is highly visible from the city of Nelson, surrounding areas and Highway 3A.
To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca
