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Several fires in the Kootenays, one evacuation alert issued

There are a number of fires in the Kootenays that crews are battling, and one evacuation alert has been issued northeast of Nelson.

An evacuation alert was issued for about 350 homes along Highway 3A between Sitkum Creek South and Willow Point (Six Mile Lakes Road), some 10 kilometres northeast of Nelson.

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The fire is 380 hectares in size between Duhamel and Sitkum Creeks, four kilometres north of Kootenay Lake.

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It’s visible from Nelson, and Southeast Fire Centre Fire Information Officer Jordan Turner says homes in the evacuation alert area could be threatened due to volatile winds. However, it is holding within retardant lines at this time.

The areas east of Nelson around Willow Point affected by the evacuation alert.

There is a full response to this wildfire including helicopters and multiple airtanker groups, according to the BC Wildlife Centre.

Meanwhile, Highway 95 is closed between Golden and Radium Hot Springs due to a fire adjacent to the highway near Brisco.

South of Cranbrook, a 30-hectare fire is burning 1.5 kilometres east of Highway 95 near Baynes Lake. There, two pieces of heavy equipment and multiple fire fighters are on scene.

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Fire near Baynes Lake. Christine Renstrom

And earlier in the afternoon, a fire less than a hectare in size popped up one kilometre west of Castlegar near Blueberry Creek – but was quickly contained by airtankers and three helicopters.

The causes of all the fires are under investigation, but Turner says lightning is a probable cause in all of them.

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