Sitkum Creek wildfire keeps on growing
By Nelson Daily Staff
The Southeast Fire Centre is now reporting the Sitkum Creek Wildfire is estimated at 530 hectares.
The active, interface wildfire, which started July 4, is listed at 50 percent contained. It’s located four kilometers north of Kootenay Lake, between Sitkum and Duhamel Creeks on the North Shore.
The BC Wildfire Service has recently reduced the number of on the ground firefighting force from more than 120 to 82 members.
There are three helicopters and three pieces of heavy equipment.
“The primary objective of BC Wildfire Service Crews is to limit the fire spread down slope towards the identified values,” a report on the Southeast Fire Centre said.
“Controlled fire is being used to strengthen control lines and contain the fire to the areas between Duhamel Creek and Sitkum Creek.”
The Sitkum Creek wildfire remains the only major fire of note in the Southeast Fire Centre.
An evacuation alert was recently lifted for 350 residents in the area between Sitkum Creek South and Willow Point (Six Mile Lakes Road).
The BC Wildfire Service is reporting there are presently166 wildfires burning around B.C., down from 175 on Wednesday.
The BC Wildfire Services said the estimated costs so far to fight wildfires in 2015 sits at $122 million with 293,000 hectares of land burned.
At this time last year, 103,000 hectares had been burned at a cost of $54 million.
Following a week of cooler temperatures, Environment Canada is forecasting a week of dry weather with daytime highs of 33 C for Sunday and Monday and zero precipitation.
The BC Government is considering new ways to penalize people who cause wildfires — from impounding vehicles for flicking cigarette butts out the window, to doubling fines for failing to extinguish a campfire.
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
