Wildfire burning near Salmo, annual music festival

For the second time in two years, a wildfire is burning near one of B.C’s largest music festivals.

The McArthur Creek wildfire is located approximately 13 kilometres southeast of Salmo and 10 km east of the annual Shambhala Music Festival. The fire, located in remote terrain, is estimated at 35 hectares and is being closely watched by the B.C. Wildfire Service.

An evacuation alert has been issued for the McArthur Creek area, but not for the music festival. BCWS says with a favourable wind direction being forecast, no evacuation alert is anticipated at this time.

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Last year at this time, a 75-hectare fire was burning in the nearby McCormick Creek area, and an evacuation alert was issued for the area. Shambhala organizers issued a ‘pre-evacuation alert’ on the festival’s website, stating festival goers should be “prepared for changing conditions.”

The Shambhala festival has operated since 1998, and draws more than 10,000 attendees. This year’s festival is slated to run Friday, August 10 to Monday, August 13 at Salmo River Ranch.