UPDATED: Sitkum Creek/Duhamel Creek now approximately 60 hectares in size
By Nelson Daily Staff
It didn’t take long for the Sitkum Creek/Duhamel Creek fire to grow.
The Southeast Fire Centre is reporting the fire, located approximately four kilometers north of Nelson, had ballooned to 60 hectares in size.
Status remains active as helicopters and multiple airtanker groups continue to battle the blaze until nightfall.
The fire continues to be a bit of theatre for residents of the City of Nelson as the blaze is highly visible from the Heritage City.
Cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Although early cause appears to be from recent lightning storms that flow over the region in the past days.
Wildfire north of Nelson highly visible from city and surrounding areas
The Southeast Fire Centre is responding with a full arsenal of air equipment to a wildfire between Duhamel and Sitkum Creek, four kilometres north of Kootenay Lake said Southeast Fire Information Officer Jordan Turner.
The fire covers an estimated 10 hectares and no structures or communities are immediately at risk at this time.
Turner said the fire is highly visible from the city of Nelson, surrounding areas and Highway 3A and BC Wildfire Service is conducting a full response to this fire, including multiple helicopters and airtankers supporting crews on the ground.
A bomber was seen doing a fly over before dropping retardant on the fire as smoke billows toward Balfour and as far as Crawford Bay says one The Nelson Daily reader.
“BC Wildfire Service is conducting a full response to this fire, including multiple helicopters and airtankers supporting crews on the ground,” Turner said.
Turner said the BC Wildfire Service has responded to 88 wildfires in the Southeast Fire Centre since Saturday, June 27.
“The majority of them have been small, spot-sized wildfires and none of these are currently threatening any properties or infrastructure,” he said.
“With hot and dry conditions forecast through next week and the potential for more thunderstorms, the Southeast Fire Centre is urging the public to be extra cautious in the backcountry.
“All person-caused fires are preventable and these incidents may affect the ability of the firefighting crews to respond to naturally occurring fires.”
To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.
The public is urged to use these numbers to report a fire and not 9-1-1.
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca
The bomber was seen doing a fly over before dropping retardant on the fire as smoke billows toward Balfour and as far as Crawford Bay says one The Nelson Daily reader.
Water bombers were seen flying over the wildfire on the North Shore.
Wildfire reported north of Nelson on ridge
A wildfire flared up north of Nelson Saturday afternoon, between Duhamel and Sitkum Creeks.
The fire can be seen from Nelson on top of the ridge.
The Nelson Daily ad rep Jay Marshall, who lives at Seven Mile on the North Shore, said the wildfire can be seen from his back yard.
“The fire is between Duhamel and Sitkum Creeks, at seven to eight mile (on the North Shore) on top of the ridge,” Marshall told The Nelson Daily Saturday afternoon.
“The wind is blowing to the east,” Marshall added.
“There is a Bird Dog and Bomber plan and helicopter on scene, with no retardant.”
Southeast Fire Information Officer Jordan Turner said the wildfire has grown to 10 hectares and located four kilometers north on the lake.
Turner said crews are responding to the fire.
“Seeing how the fire is quite a distance away most likely the cause is lightning from the storms we had recently combined with the heat we’re experiencing is the cause of the fire, but I don’t have a definitive cause as of yet,” Turner said.
This is the second wildfire in two days the Southeast Fire Centre has dealt with in the area.
Friday, a wildfire was reported near the Kokanee Creek Provincial Park. That fire is now contained.
