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Cummings Creek wildfire under close watch

The fire may be helicopter bucketed by the BC Wildfire Service depending on conditions
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Image of the Cummings Creek wildfire of note, taken by BC Wildfire Service on August 7. (Image courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)

The BC Wildfire Service may start to tackle the Cummings Creek / Wilson Creek wildfire to the immediate west of Sparwood, after “aggressive fire behaviour” was observed overnight on the eastern flank of the fire.

“Today (August 9) if smoke conditions allow, there is the potential for helicopter bucketing to occur on the northern flank of the fire, along Cummings Creek to provide some cooling effects to the fire behaviour today,” reads a BC Wildfire Service update.

The service continue to monitor the fire, which is burning in extremely steep, inoperable terrain described as unsafe for crews or equipment to work on suppression operations or build containment lines.

Access to the fire is limited due to the terrain, and smoke.

BC Wildfire Service have been moving equipment into Sparwood to assess the risk to the community, and prepare for if the fire begins to burn closer to populated areas.

Currently, the community is not threatened by the fire, which is one of three ‘fires of note’ in the East Kootenays.

The BC Wildfire Service currently have 20 firefighters assigned to build access routes and contingency lines where safe to do so, while there is regular aerial observation.

There will be a public information session about the fire tonight (August 9) at the Sparwood Recreation and Leisure Centre, starting at 8pm. It will be available on zoom, and streamed and recorded on Facebook. Details can be found on the RDEK website, here.

READ MORE: Area restriction applied to Weasel Creek wildfire



scott.tibballs@thefreepress.ca
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