BC Wildfire Service announces burn out operations planned for the Sitkum Creek Wildfire
By Nelson Daily Staff
The BC Wildfire Service is advising the residents living around Nelson of an increase of smoke surrounding the Sitkum Creek Wildfire as a result of proactive burn out operations.
The BC Wildfire Service advised the public in a media release.
“The wildfire is located in very steep and dangerous terrain and this burn out is necessary to limit the potential growth and direction of the fire,” said Noelle Kekula, Fire Information Officer for the Southeast Fire Centre.
“The objective is to guide the fire toward control lines and contain the fire to the areas between Duhamel Creek and Sitkum Creek.”
Kekula said these burning operations are weather permitting, and may last for several days.
“Crews have established an equipment guard on the east flank of the fire and have built a fuel free control line on the south and west flanks of the fire,” Kekula explained.
“When safe to do so, crews will begin a controlled fire to burn off any remaining unburned fuel between the guard and the wildfire. This removes fuel from the fire’s path and reduces the chance of the wildfire breaching the control line. During burnout operations, the fire may appear more active.”
Kekula said the BC Wildfire Service is requesting the public’s help in accomplishing this goal by urging members of the public to stay out of the area restriction order that is in effect.
The Sitkum Creek Wildfire forced the Regional District of Central Kootenay has issued an Evacuation Alert in the area.
Approximately 350 residents in the area between Sitkum Creek South and Willow Point (Six Mile Lakes Road) have been given the evacuation alert notice.
The alert is for residents in the area between Sitkum Creek South and Willow Point (Six Mile Lakes Road) are affected by this precautionary measure, due to erratic wind conditions.
Residents will be notified should conditions worsen.
The Sitkum Creek area has also been placed on a restriction order.
For more information on this Alert, check out the RDCK website.
To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.
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