Crews continue to battle Trozzo Creek wildfire near Winlaw
By The Nelson Daily Staff
BC Wildfire Service crews continue to battle the Trozzo Creek fire near Winlaw.
The BC Wildfire Service said on its website the wildfire, which started by lightning on Friday, July 9, is now estimated in size at 500 hectares.
“Growth on this fire continues to be driven by strong upslope winds and large amounts of unseasonably dry fuels,” BC Wildfire Service said.
“This fire is visible from Winlaw, Nelson, Castlegar and surrounding areas, as well as to those travelling on Highway 6 in the area.”
BC Wildfire Service said 45 firefighters along with two helicopters and three pieces of heavy equipment continue to battle the blaze located 7.5 kilometers from Winlaw
“All of the established containment lines continued to hold through the overnight period. Ground crews reinforced those lines yesterday morning before moving upslope to continue reinforcing the Trozzo drainage,” BC Wildfire Service said.
“Crew access to some areas has been a challenge on this fire, but heavy equipment was successful in clearing old rockslides and opening up existing road networks that allowed access into the higher elevations so crews can suppress spot fires.”
BC Wildfire Service said driven by wind and an abundance of dry fuels, the fire continued to grow into higher elevations and deeper into the backcountry Thursday with the fire behaviour and rapid growth provided a challenge to heavy equipment.
“Heavy equipment and firefighter-constructed containment lines are being supported by helicopters bucketing flare-ups and portions of the fire that are inaccessible due to extreme slope,” BC Wildfire Service said.
The Trozzo Creek wildfire is the only “Wildfire of Note in the Southeast Fire Centre, that crews are currently fighting 62 active fires in the region.
There are 1,080 active wildfires in the province, with 134 new starts in the past week.
The Southeast Fire Centre extends from the U.S. border in the south to 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.
