An aerial view of the Kootenay River just south of the B.C.-Idaho border, showing where the Parker Ridge wildfire jumped the river twice.

An aerial view of the Kootenay River just south of the B.C.-Idaho border, showing where the Parker Ridge wildfire jumped the river twice.

Farmers burning to prevent possible spread of Idaho wildfire south of Creston

Strong winds for northern Idaho tomorrow; fields burning as preventative measure today; smoke may be visible from Creston...

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is warning Creston Valley residents that smoke and flames south of the U.S. border may be highly visible today.

“Idahoan farmers in a co-ordinated effort with U.S. Forest Service firefighting crews will be burning stubble fields in the vicinity of the Parker Ridge Fire as a proactive measure to prevent further spread of the fire,” said the advisory. “A wind event is forecasted in the area for Thursday, Aug. 20, and this controlled burn of 800 hectares is to prevent the erratic and aggressive fire behaviour observed on Friday, Aug. 14.”

For information on fires in the U.S., please visit http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit. www.bcwildfire.ca.

Creston Valley Advance