Multiple fires ignited in the Golden area over the weekend.
North of Golden, the Redburn Creek fire continues to burn out of control at 101 hectares, and is considered to be a fire of note. The fire was discovered on August 9 in the Blaeberry, and was being assessed the next day. BC Wildfire Service considered the fire to be high priority, said fire information officer Carlee Kachman. The fire is approximately 18 kilometres northeast of Golden.
This fire is highly visible from Golden, the Trans-Canada Highway, and local communities, but BC Wildfire Service says it is not currently impacting any communities or structures. The fire is being closely monitored, and is now burning at a low intensity, and has connected with natural fuel breaks. The fire is a modified response fire, meaning it is managed using a combination of suppression techniques, including direct and indirect attacks, and monitoring to steer, contain, and otherwise manage fire activity. This type of response is used to minimize costs and damages.
The Redburn Creek fire ignited as a result of lightning in the area almost two weeks ago.
“Lightning strikes will hit an area, and they will smoulder deep into the ground. When the conditions are right, then it will flare up,” Kachman said. “Those sections of holdover lightning fires, they have been burning for quite a while.”
Storms over the weekend caused a number of other fires in the area, including an estimated 0.1 hectare fire at Mt. Hughes, west of town, and east of town at Hospital Creek. Along the Trans-Canada Highway east, there are fires at Hunter Creek, south of Glenogle, burning at 0.02 hectares, and fires at Glenogle and Porcupine at 4.1 hectares. All of these fires were caused by lightning on August 12.
South of Golden in the Dogtooth Range, a small fire is burning at Canyon Creek, which was started on August 12, and is suspected to be human-caused. Another fire in Canyon Creek started the day before, August 11, and is suspected to be lightning caused.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit www.bcwildfire.ca.
