Wildfires in East Kootenay Prompt Early Morning Evacuations

The East Kootenays experienced a stressful night due to two wildfires that were discovered on Saturday.

BC Wildfire Service has a full response to both of these fires, including multiple helicopters and airtankers supporting fire crews on the ground. The biggest fire is adjacent to the Elk River and about 1.5 km east of Highway 93 and the community of Baynes Lake. The blaze was estimated at 200 hectares at about 7 a.m. Sunday morning and the cause is under investigation.

The Baynes Lake fire burning on Saturday night. (Photo Credit: RDEK/Facebook)

Strong winds through the evening and the night caused aggressive fire behaviour, resulting in the fire jumping the river.

An Evacuation Order was issued at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning for the area south of 1347 Waldo Road, including the community of Kragmont and an area south of the river. Specifically, residents on Conroy Road, Tranquility Road, Gavin Road, Fitzpatrick Road, Canyon Cut Off, Grasmere-Dorr Road, Dorr Cut Off Road, and Elko Grasmere Road have been evacuated. A Reception Centre has been set up at the Jaffray Community Hall.

An Evacuation Alert was also ordered for Baynes Lake from north of 1347 Waldo Road to Kikomun Road. “Now is the time for people in the Baynes Lake area to get prepared in the event that conditions worsen and the Evacuation Order boundary needs to be expanded,” says Information Officer Loree Duczek. “We encourage people to gather important documents, medications, papers, and personal supplies so that they are ready to go should an order be issued.

The Baynes Lake Volunteer Fire Department at the scene of the fire Saturday night. (Photo Credit: RDEK/Facebook)

The other wildfire is adjacent to Highway 95, near Cedared Creek and the communities of Harrogate and Brisco. This blaze is estimated at 50 hectares, and ten firefighters and a water tender are on site. The cause is also under investigation.

At 2:30 a.m., this fire prompted the evacuation of a home at 110 Highway 95 north of Spillimacheen. The Windermere Fire Department has deployed sprinkler protection units to three homes to provide protection in the area. An Evacuation Alert is in place for an area south of the Regional District of East Kootenay and Columbia Shuswap Regional District, from the east side of the Columbia River south to Westside Road in Spillimacheen.

You can see the Regional District’s website for more information on evacuations.

Flames shooting up a tree at the fire near Elk River and Baynes Lake. (Photo Credit: RDEK/Facebook)

The BC Wildfire Service is urging the public to be extra cautious in the backcountry, as the Kootenays are set to get hot and dry conditions through next week as well as the potential for more thunderstorms. “All person-caused fires are preventable and these incidents may affect the ability of the firefighting crews to respond to naturally occurring fires,” says Fire Information Officer Jordan Turner.

If you see smoke or flames, report them by calling 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 from your cell phone.