The BC Wildfire Service is reporting more growth on the Connell Ridge fire south of Cranbrook.
The blaze is pegged at 632 hectares and has been classified as a Wildfire of Note by the BC Wildfire Service.
Wednesday’s efforts to battle the fire included 48 firefighters and 3 helicopters, ground crews were working to establish containment lines.
Six properties south of Mount Baker along Gold Creek Forest Service Road are on Evacuation Alert.
View more information on the Connell Ridge fire below:
This fire is burning at high elevation at this time with rank 2 behavior observed, meaning it is a low vigor surface fire with a slow rate of spread; however, this fire behavior is expected to increase throughout the day as an incoming cold front is forecast to increase winds to greater than 25 km/hour today and this evening. With increased fire behavior, this fire is expected to grow in size later today and through the evening. For more information on wildfire rank: Click Here
Interface: This is not an interface fire.
More information
An Evacuation Alert has been issued by the Regional District of East Kootenay in the vicinity of this fire. More information is available online: Click Here
Cause: Lightning 
Resources
• 48 firefighters
• 3 helicopters
With an incoming cold front forecasting increased wind, officers on scene will be planning and preparing for the change in weather.
Today, ground crews are working on establishing control lines, which look like wide paths where all fuel is removed from the ground. Control lines can be built with crews by hand or with heavy equipment like bulldozers and excavators. They vary in size depending on the size of the fire. Crews will also be busy continuing to set up water delivery systems and preparing for the incoming cold front.
Aerial resources will continue to work on this incident throughout the day to meet tactical objectives as required. Airtankers remain available to respond to this incident in the day if they are needed to meet those objectives.
Heavy equipment strike teams are being dispatched to this incident to help ground crews establish control lines. Equipment strike teams often consist of six pieces of equipment.
An incident management team will be taking over this incident as early as August 4, 2022.
Meanwhile, a lightning caused fire 5 km northwest of Sparwood is burning at 1 hectare.
The BC Wildfire Service says the Cummings Creek fire is of no threat to the community or structures and is displaying a slow rate of growth.
Find more information on the Connell Ridge fire below:
The BC Wildfire Service is responding to the suspected-lightning caused Cummings Creek Wildfire (N11051), located approximately five kilometres from the town of Sparwood and is estimated to be one hectare. pic.twitter.com/wadRJa7YVG
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 4, 2022
A human caused fire north of Creston is at 65 hectares in the Six Mile Creek area.
The BC Wildfire Service has classified that blaze as out of control,
There were 31 firefighters with units of heavy equipment working on that fire on Wednesday.
Find more information below:
Update: ground crews and aviation are continuing to respond to the Six Mile Creek Wildfire (N71011) located approximately 14 kilometres northeast from the town of Creston. The fire is estimated to be 57 hectares in size at this time. pic.twitter.com/G2M7ejS7zT
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 3, 2022
– Article includes statement, photo and files from BC Wildfire Service
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