102 fires burning in B.C.’s southeast region

The Southeast Fire Centre is being ravaged with a stunning amount of wildfires burning in the region.

“As a result of the recent lightning activity that we’ve experience throughout our region, the Southeast Fire Centre has experienced a substantial number of fire starts,” said B.C. Wildfire Service information officer Ashley Davidoff. “We do have 102 active wildfires; 51 one of those were discovered yesterday.”

The cause was a rainstorm that rolled through the southern Interior on Tuesday evening. Along with rain, the storm produced scores of lightning strikes, most of which seemed centered around Revelstoke.

In that area, there are no less than 24 wildfires; all are new except one.

In related news, Highway 93 from Radium Hot Springs to the Alberta border is still closed in both directions because of fire activity in the area. There is no estimated time of when the highway will reopen.

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Motorists are advised to take the alternate route of Highway 95 and Highway 1 via Golden.

Below is information from Parks Canada on the highway closure.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• A partial closure is now in place for Highway 93S with no through access. Certain areas at the North and South ends of Kootenay National Park, including the Radium Hot Pools are accessible.
• In the South, access from Radium Hot Springs to McLeod Meadows is now open. In the North, access to Paint Pots from the Junction of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) is now open.
• Highway 93S remains closed to through traffic from Paint Pots to McLeod Meadows campground due to wildfire. Check http://www.DriveBC.ca and http://www.511.alberta.ca for alternate routes.
  Area closures :
• A new closure is in place for Hector Gorge trail.
• A new closure is in place for the North Rockwall from Tumbling Pass to the Paint Pots trailhead, including Helmet Creek trail, Goodsir Pass trail and Wolverine Pass trail. This closure includes associated campgrounds: Tumbling, Helmet and Helmet/Ochre.
• The South Rockwall trail from Tumbling Pass to Floe Lake trailhead, including associated campgrounds: Numa Creek and Floe Lake;
• The area near Luxor Pass trail, West Kootenay trail, Dolly Varden trail and Crooks Meadow Group camping; Honeymoon Pass trail, Hawk Creek trail and Simpson River trail;
• Day-use areas including Wardle Creek day-use area, Vermilion Crossing day-use area and Simpson’s Monument day-use area.
• Kootenay Park Lodge has been evacuated due to the proximity of the Wardle fire to the lodge, the weather forecasted for the next two days and the dry conditions on the ground.
• Visit https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/kootenay/securite-safety/kpn-knp-feu-fire-2018 for more information on closures.
• Columbia Valley communities and businesses remain open. When Highway 93S through access is not possible for safety reasons, alternate routes, such as Highways 1 and 95 through Golden, BC, add only approximately one additional hour of driving time. Check http://www.DriveBC.ca and http://www.511.alberta.ca for road closures.
• A fire ban will be implemented today for Kootenay Yoho and Banff national parks due to elevated fire danger.