Updated, Monday 2 p.m.: The Toronto Creek fire north of Grand Forks has more than doubled in size since Saturday, but is currently being held according to the BC Wildfire Service.
Following evacuation alerts isued by the RDKB on Sunday for 22 addresses on Granby Road between the 12 and 14 kilometre marks, the Wildfire Service is reporting that the Toronto Creek fire, the largest of the lighting-caused fires that started on Saturday, is approximately 11 hectares in size.
However, the fire is currently reported as “being held,” which means it is not expected to grow outside predetermined boundaries under current conditions. The wildfire is still classed as being active.
Accoridng to the Wildfire Service, a crew of 14 firefighters are working on the fire with the aid of heavy equipment and a helicopter.
Later on Sunday, the RDKB also issued evacuation alerts for properties on Santa Rosa Road, in response to a wildfire near Rossland. The alert is for all properties on Santa Rosa Road east of two kilometres. No evacuation orders have been issued in either location.
“The BC Wildfire Service is actioning a wildfire in the Toronto Creek area. They have recommended that we put all addresses on Granby Road, from kilometre 12 to 14 on alert, including four addresses on Volcanic Creek Road,” Marsh said. The Emergency Operations Centre is activated to a level one, he added.
More information on current evacuation alerts can be found online at https://rdkb.com/HotTopics/WildfireSeason.aspx
Marsh said Grand Forks Fire/Rescue members handed out alerts door to door, and will hand out the alert to anyone inside the zone, including campers. Though 22 addresses are included, Marsh said fewer than that are homes.
Marsh stressed that this is not an order to leave, but about being prepared to leave.
Residents can find information about what to include in an emergency kit here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/preparedbc/build-an-emergency-kit
The Wildfire Service map can be found at: https://governmentofbc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=ef6f11c8c36b42c29e103f65dbcd7538
