Increased wildfire activity in the Southeast



CASTLEGAR – As forecast, thunderstorms passed through the Southeast Fire Centre yesterday, August 11. The BC Wildfire Service is currently responding to 10 new lightning-caused wildfires in the region. Thunderstorms are anticipated to continue today, with increased winds forecast for Saturday. We expect to discover new fires from this weather pattern in the coming days.

Ground crews and aviation resources are being strategically deployed to new incidents in a priority sequence as they are discovered. As of this morning, these newly discovered fires have been initial attack targets; meaning they are able to be attacked directly. On most of these new fires, control lines are established adjacent to the fire. Direct attack is conducted on low-intensity wildfires that pose minimal risk to safety of firefighters.

None of these new fire starts are currently threatening structures or infrastructure. As this is an evolving situation, we will continue to update the information over the next few days as needed and as detection continues.

Currently, 24 fires are burning in the Southeast Fire Centre. Since April 1, 2022, there have been 112 fires covering 4,051 hectares. Of the fires this year, 77 per cent are lightning caused.

Campfires, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited. We would like to remind everyone to be responsible with any activity that could potentially create a wildfire. Human-caused wildfires are fully preventable and unnecessarily divert firefighting resources from naturally occurring wildfires.

The fire danger rating in the Southeast Fire Centre today is a mix of moderate and high with small pockets of extreme and a section of low in the north of the Columbia zone. The Southeast Fire Centre extends from the U.S. border in the south to Mica Dam in the north, and from the Okanagan Highlands and Monashee Mountains in the west, to the B.C.-Alberta border in the east.

To report a wildfire call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air-quality advisories, visit: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

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Contact:

Fire Information Officer
BC Wildfire Service
Southeast Fire Centre
250 318-7715

Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect