(Photo Credit: BC WIldfire Service)
Friday afternoon’s update from the BC Wildfire Service confirms the St. Mary’s River Wildfire has experienced growth to the northeast.
Updated mapping from the provincial wildfire agency pegs the blaze near ʔaq’am at 3,342 hectares due to southwest winds picking up.
The observed fire behaviour is rank 2-3, a low to moderately vigorous surface fire with pockets of rank 4 and bursts of canopy fire expected with a gusty winds forecast over the late afternoon.
The wildfire continues to be actioned by 125 BC Wildfire Service members, local fire departments, heavy equipment and aerial support.
Crews are being challenged in the area between Francis Lake and the Kootenay River.
Two heavy-lift helicopters are working together to cool the fires edge in that area.
The Regional District of East Kootenay has issued an Evacuation Alert for 17 dwellings in the Old Airport to Lakit Lake Area.
Find more information from the BC Wildfire Service below:
Fire Behaviour & Site conditions
As a result of southwest winds picking up, fire activity has increased on the Northeast corner of the fire.
Crews are being challenged in the area between Francis Lake and the Kootenay River.
Two heavy-lift helicopters are working together to cool the fires edge in that area.
Observed fire behaviour is rank 2-3 which is a low to moderately vigorous surface fire where occasional candling can be observed.
As gusty winds are forecast through the late afternoon and into the evening, pockets of rank 4 are possible which includes some bursts of canopy fire.
Learn more about Wildfire Rank here.
Ground Operations
A BC Wildfire Service unit crew worked through the night and the fire held within control lines that were established north from the airport up to Cherry Creek LD Ranch Road Junction.
The machine guard from Francis lake to Kootenay River held on Thursday and the fire continues to hold from Francis Lake to the Mission Road.
Throughout the day crews will be doing hand ignitions any pockets of unburned fuel that exist the fires edge and control lines.
Thursday’s 50-hectare planned ignition achieved objectives, removing fuels on the flats ahead of the residences.
An American 20-person engine crew arrived on scene late Thursday and was briefed.
This crew is made up of experienced firefighters from across the United States.
Their first day on the fireline is today where they will be embedded with a BCWS unit crew.
An additional BCWS 22-person unit crew is en route Friday morning to support this fire.
Aviation
Heavy smoke has impacted visibility and aviation resources including airtankers and helicopters are unable to fly this morning.
Aviation operations will begin again once visibility improves and it is safe to fly.
Information on retardant can be found here.
Structure Protection
Structure Protection crews are continuing to conduct assessments and protection plans are being established on homes in areas of potential concern near the airport and Wycliffe road.
Additional structure protection crews and resources are being mobilized.
Evacuation Orders and Alerts
As a result of increased fire behaviour, the Regional District of East Kootenay has increased the evacuation alert area as follows: https://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/protectiveservices/emergencyinfo/evacuation_alerts_orders/
In addition, the City of Cranbrook has implemented an evacuation alert for the Canadian Rockies International Airport: https://cranbrook.ca/news/evacuation-alert-in-place-for-canadian-rockies-international-airport-due-to-st-marys-river-fire
Evacuation alerts and orders for The ʔaq’am community remain unchanged as follows: https://www.facebook.com/aqam.community
Donations
No approved GoFundMe campaigns have been started by the ʔaq̓am staff in response to this wildfire.
Any GoFundMe campaigns linked to this incident are not connected to the community.
Further details can be found in the official media release.
– With files from The BC Wildfire Service
–
Nathan.Leigh@pattisonmedia.com
On Twitter: @1029RewindRadio
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