Regional fire update
The Southeast Fire Centre is reporting 46 new fires in the region since Thursday, all but two of which were lightning caused (the Rock Creek fire is believed to be human caused, but that is under investigation right now). There was also significant lightning last night and the night before, and fire centre information officer...
Environment Canada/IHA issue smoke advisory for Kootenays
The Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Interior Health Authority, has issued a smoky skies advisory for the southern areas of the Okanagan, Boundary and Kootenay regions, spanning the communities of: Oliver, Osoyoos, Rock Creek, Grand Forks, Castlegar and Creston. These areas are affected by local and transboundary...
No more angling in South Kootenays
The Government of B.C. is suspending angling for the southern Kootenays due to ongoing warm water temperatures and low flows. Effective Aug. 15 through Sept. 15, 2015, virtually all angling in streams and rivers in Wildlife Management Units 4-3 through 4-9 is suspended. The closure has been put in place to protect fish stocks...
Rock Creek and Washington fires growing rapidly
Update: The Stickpin fire is now estimated to be 8093.7 hectares (20,000 acres) Edited: There was an error in the original acreage for the Stickpin part of the story and that has been corrected. A fire that started in Rock Creek has grown overnight to encompass 2500 hectares (6177.6 acres). In comparison, Vancouver's Stanley...
UPDATE: Thunderstorm watch ends for Boundary/West Kootenay
The thunderstorm watch for the West Kootenay, Boundary, Slocan Lake, Arrow Lakes regions has been removed by Environment Canada. The storm passed through the region Saturday morning dropping rain and sending lightning. A few showers will continue through the morning, with clouds filling the sky and a 60 percent chance of rain...
3000 acre fire burning in Washington; increases smoke in Boundary
A 1214-hectare (3000 acre) fire south of Grand Forks is burning northeast of Republic, Washington. The Stickpin fire (named for the Stickpin trail) was reported on Tuesday and 3:30 p.m. and is believed to be caused by lightning. According to the Collville National Forest Service’s Incident Information System, the fire is burning heavy dead wood […]
Evacuations and road closures near Rock Creek
Update (11:01 p.m.): New highway closures include Hwy 33 closed in both directions from Rock Creek to Beaverdell. Hwy 3 is closed in both directions from Nine Mile Pit to Midway and Hwy 3 is closed from 14 km east of Osoyoos (Anarchist Rest Mtn rest area) west to Rock Creek. Update (10:35 p.m.): A forest fire that started ...
Ash/smoke in valley being funneled up from U.S.
The rain of falling ash and haze of smoke on the region right now is not caused by local fires, but rather by blazes south of the border, according to Southeast Fire Centre fire information officer Karlie Shaughnessy. “There is a very small fire in the Big Sheep Creek area west of Rossland – it’s just 3.3 hectares and very ...
Shamhala sees 104 drug seizures, 61 vehicles impounded
Shambhala is over for another year, and RCMP Sgt. John Ferguson says 2015 was a mixed bag, with no vehicular crashes, but many impounded vehicles drug seizures. "The WKTS and Nelson IRSU are very happy to report that there were no major crashes involving Shambhala in our patrol area," Ferguson said. "The RCMP and Integrated...
CBT gives $450,000 for Millennium Park expansion
Columbia Basin Trust has announced a $450,000 grant to support the City of Castlegar’s Millennium Park Phase 2 Project. The Phase 2 Project includes: Off-leash Dog Park; Active Recreation court area including two Beach Volley Ball courts; Tennis/Pickle Ball Court; improved access, parking and drop off areas that will service...
