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Area restriction applied to Weasel Creek wildfire

The fire burned over the border on August 4
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Aggressive fire activity photographed on August 8 by the BC Wildfire Service. (Image courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)

The BC Wildfire Service is implementing an area restriction order for the Weasel Creek fire, which burned over the US-Canada border on August 4 and continues to burn into the Flathead Valley.

“This area restriction reflects the need to protect the public in areas where fire suppression activities are taking place,” reads the BC Wildfire Service release on August 9.

The details of the area restriction are featured on this map, here.

The borders are described as “Commencing from the junction of the Canada-United States (U.S.) border and Weasel Creek, following northwest up Weasel Creek, north up the Wigwam River to the southern end of Wigwam Forest Service Road (FSR), northwest up the west side of the Wigwam River on the west side of the Wigwam FSR, to the junction of the Ram FSR east to approximately 12 kilometres on the Ram FSR up the western ridge of Mt. Doupe, down the northeast face to follow Twentynine Mile Creek, Howell Creek, and Gumbo Creek to the Flathead FSR, south on the Flathead FSR to the junction of the Flathead FSR and the Kishinena FSR, southeast down the Kishinena FSR to the junction of the Kishinena FSR and the Canada-U.S. border.”

The area restriction is in effect as of August 9, and will remain in place until October 15 or until rescinded. The fire is currently estimated at 648 hectares on the Canadian side.

Under the order, nobody is permitted to enter the area without prior written authorization of an official involved in fire management.

The Weasel Creek wildfire is being closely monitored on both sides of the border, with the US Forest Service describing the fire as burning deep in steep, rough unpopulated terrain. ‘The weather outlook for the next two days is calling for hotter, drier and windier weather that could be favorable for fire growth,” said the US Forest Service in an August 8 update. The area around the US portion of the fire is also closed.

READ MORE: Two fires of note in Elk Valley area



scott.tibballs@thefreepress.ca
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