Harrop Creek wildfire grows to 1,000 hectares
By Nelson Daily Staff
To protect the public and to aid in fire suppression, BC Wildfire Service has closed the Harrop Mainline Forest Service Road and the East Harrop Mainline Forest Service Road.
The closure was announced in a Southeast Fire Centre media release Wednesday.
The Harrop Creek wildfire once again increased in size Tuesday night, going from 655 hectares to an estimated size now of 1,000 hectares.
“Twenty-two BC Wildfire Service personnel are continuing to build fire guards (Wednesday) with the support of heavy equipment and aircraft,” the Southeast Fire Centre release said.
“Columns of smoke from this fire will be visible in nearby communities today as pockets of forest fuels burn.”
The smoke from the wildfire filled the valley surrounding Nelson. People with respiratory issues may wish to contact their health professionals.
There are also two helicopters and heavy equipment assisting in the building of the fire guard.
The Harrop Creek wildfire, about 10 kilometres south of the communities of Harrop and Procter, was caused by lightning Thursday, July 27. The wildfire, currently burning in steep complex terrain, is not an interface fire and currently is not affecting any communities.
“BC Wildfire Service personnel are monitoring the fire daily and implementing control strategies,” said BC Wildfire Service website.
A map indicating the area affected by Harrop Mainline Forest Service Road and the East Harrop Mainline Forest Service Road closure is available online at: http://ow.ly/P1zr30e7hcd
Other Wildfires currently burning in the Southeast Fire region include:
Glacier Creek wildfire
- The Glacier Creek wildfire is about 25 kilometres northeast of Meadow Creek and about 18 kilometres east of Duncan Lake. As of the morning of Aug. 2, 2017, it covered about 400 hectares.
- A road closure has been implemented on the Duncan-Glacier Creek Forest Service Road, starting at the MacBeth Icefields turnoff at the 19-kilometre mark. A map indicating the area affected by this road closure is available online at: http://ow.ly/ccaN30e3NZz
- There is currently no access to the Jumbo area or Monica Meadows. However, backcountry travellers can still access the MacBeth Icefields at this time.
White River wildfire
- The White River wildfire is about 47 kilometres northeast of Canal Flats. As of the morning of Aug. 2, 2017, it covered about 500 hectares.
- This fire is being closely monitored by BC Wildfire Service personnel.
- A road closure has been implemented on the White-Middle Fork Forest Service Road beginning at the 45.5-kilometre mark. A map indicating the area affected by this road closure is available online at: http://ow.ly/lpLc30e7jz3
Island Pond wildfire
- The 1,150-hectare Island Pond fire that started on July 30 is about 17 kilometres southeast of Canal Flats.
- As of the morning of Aug. 2, 2017, helicopters, airtankers, skimmers and heavy equipment are supporting 64 firefighting personnel on the ground. Crews are taking advantage of a change in wind direction today to build more fire guards.
Fire activity and fire behaviour can change quickly, so members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and be extremely careful with any activity that could potentially spark a new wildfire.
The Southeast Fire Centre extends from the U.S. border in the south to the Mica Dam in the north and from the Okanagan Highlands and Monashee Mountains in the west to the B.C.-Alberta border in the east. The Southeast Fire Centre includes the Selkirk Natural Resource District and the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District.
To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call *5555 on a cellphone or 1 800 663-5555 toll-free. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit: www.bcwildfire.ca
You can also follow the latest wildfire news:
* On Twitter: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
* On Facebook: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo
