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Kimberley issued Evacuation Alert

Nelson Daily Staff
By Nelson Daily Staff
August 17th, 2018

The City of Kimberley has been placed on Evacuation Alert the BC Wildfire Service website said Friday.

The Evacuation Alert is due to the active statues of the Meachen Creek wildfire, located 10 kilometers southwest of St. Mary Lake in the Kianuko Provincial Park and Meachen Creek drainage.

“An evacuation alert has been issued by the Regional District of East Kootenay for the entire City of Kimberley Municipal Boundary, and properties in the RDEK directly south and southeast of the City of Kimberley Municipal Boundary,” the BC Wildfire Service website said.

“For more information on this alert, please call the RDEK at 250 426-2188 or visit their website at: www.rdek.bc.ca

The BC Wildfire Service said active winds gusting up to 40 km/hr increased fire activity (Thursday) evening. Fire activity settled down late in the evening (Thursday) night. The BC Wildfire Service said the fire has not entered the valley. 

An evacuation order has been issued by the RDEK in the St. Mary Lake area from the west boundary of the City of Kimberley to the Redding Creek/St. Mary River convergence including St. Mary Lake Road and Lakefront Road.

For more information on this order, please call the RDEK at 250 426-2188 or visit their website at: www.rdek.bc.ca 

“The safety of the residents of the St. Mary Valley and the safety of our crews remains the first priority for the BC Wildfire Service.”

The fire is currently listed at 5,685.0 hectares. There are two pieces of heavy equipment working the fire. Crews are constructing guards Friday with the aid of heavy equipment and air support. The area is being assessed for potential burn off operations to increase containment. 

BC Wildfire Service personnel are working together with the Regional District of East Kootenay, Teck Cominco and the City of Kimberley on this fire. 

For more information on Evacuation Orders go to the Regional District of East Kootenay website.

More Information:

  • Expanded forest service road restrictions are in effect for the Meachen Creek, Redding Creek, Grey Creek and White Boar forest service roads. Click here for a detailed map.
  • Beginning at the 31 km mark of St. Mary Lake Road, the Redding Creek forest service road is closed to the height of land, and the 25.3 km mark on the Hellroaring forest service road junction with the St. Mary River Main forest service road. Click here for a detailed map.
  • BC Parks has also issued a partial closure of Kianuko Provincial Park. Visit their website for additional information at: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/kianuko/ 

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