A forest fire burning about 8.5 km east of Silverton has grown to almost 100 hectares, although it is not threatening the community.
Southeast Fire Centre information officer Jordan Turner said the fire near Fennell Creek is “quite a bit bigger” than yesterday, when it was reported at seven hectares.
Crews retreated due to steep, remote terrain, but a 10-member unit crew is now tackling it. It is also being fought from the air with bucketing helicopters.
The smoke is visible from Idaho Peak.
• The Clearwater Creek fire at the base of Ymir Mountain, just outside the Whitewater ski area, is now fully contained. It burned more than 17 hectares.
• A series of small new fires have been sparked by lightning in the Slocan Valley.
Two strikes started fires on Perry Ridge, where initial attack crews have been dispatched. Another is lower down on the west side of the ridge, closer to the Little Slocan forest service road. All three fires are less than a hectare and are being fought by helicopters picking up water from the Slocan River.
The same lightning system is believed to have sparked two other fires further back of less than a hectare each, one at the base of Mt. Rinda and another at the base of Mt. Heimdal.
“We’re expecting more of these holdover fires that we’ll notice after a day or two of air patrols or calls from public,” Turner said. “They’re smouldering right now and won’t put up column of smoke until we have more hot, dry weather.”
• There has been no change on three fires up the Woodbury Creek drainage just outside Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. The largest was reported at nine hectares, while the other two were just over one hectare apiece.
To report a wildfire, call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on your cell.
Campfire ban
Meanwhile, campfires will be banned throughout the Southeast Fire Centre effective Tuesday at noon. That’s in addition to an open burning prohibition implemented July 2.
The ban includes campfires, the burning of waste or slash, grass fires of any size, the use of burning barrels of any size, the use of fireworks, sky lanterns, tiki torches, or outdoor fire pits.
It does not apply to cook stoves so long as the flame height is less than 15 centimetres. Anyone found in violation of the ban may face a $345 fine.
