The Southeast Fire Center said that 88 new fires have started in the region since Aug. 13.
According to Karlie Shaughnessy, communications specialist with the Southeast Fire Center, there have been a total of 505 fires in the region since April 1, with 90 currently burning in the area. Of those fires 431 were caused by lightening and 74 were man-made.
Shaughnessy said there is currently no smoke advisory warning in the area, and the closest fire to the Fernie area is currently burning near Kimberly. “It’s 5 km up the St. Mary Lake road. It’s 0.3 hectares in size,” said Shaughnessy. “The fire is under investigation but it looks like a structure was on fire and that spread to the local forest land. We are trying to ask everyone to stay off of St. Mary Lake road to allow crews access to the fires.” The fire is currently 100 per cent contained, with crews still monitoring the area.
Most of the activity is in the Boundary-Kootenay area. A fire near Rock Creek has burnt near 3750 hectares of land and is currently zero per cent contained. The fire has claimed 30 houses in the Rock Creek area.