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Warm weather boosts wildfire activity in Castlegar area

Higher temps, low humidity making job difficult for firefighters
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Syringa Creek Park fire. (Photos by Stefanie Harron)

The 2018 forest fire season is giving one last smoky blast to Castlegar and area.

Thick smoke blanketed the Lower Columbia valley earlier this week, as crews continued to fight the Syringa Creek, Deer Creek and Bulldog Mountain wildfires near Castlegar.

B.C.’s Air Quality Index showed Castlegar and area had the worst air quality in the province, hitting more than 10 on the scale on Wednesday at press time. The air quality was expected to improve to about a 7 on Thursday.

Officials from the Southeast Fire Centre say the wildfires were proving difficult to fight, as temperatures rebounded into the high 20s this week after a cool spell in late August.

“Increasing temperatures combined with low [relative humidity] values and gusty winds in the afternoon are expected to further increase fire intensity,” the BCWS reported. “A Fire Behaviour Analysis is now being completed for this complex. A temporary weather site has been installed within the complex to track site-specific weather to improve fire behaviour predictions.”

The difficult terrain in the area is also proving challenging for firefighters, BCWS said.

The lightning-caused fires are each over 1,500 hectares in size, located north and west of Castlegar at the southern end of the Arrow Lakes. The BC Wildfire Service has dozens of firefighters working the complex, and is sharing aircraft and heavy equipment between the fires.

The Deer Creek fire is estimated at 30 per cent contained, while Syringa is 25 per cent contained. Crews continue to build and reinforce guards and breaks around all three fires.

Plans to back-burn the Bulldog Mountain fire announced last week were never implemented, as weather conditions weren’t favourable, said BCWS communication officer Ashley Davidoff.

An area restriction is in effect for the area north of Rialto FSR, Broad Water Road, Deer Park FSR, up to Mount Stanley and west of Oak Road. The public are still able to access Syringa Creek Provincial campground. Other area restrictions are in place in the Renata and Brooklyn areas, and a voluntary closure of the Columbia Western Rail Trail has been put in effect.

“The trail is being used by crews to access this fire and perform fire suppression,” BCWS said. “It would be helpful if the public could refrain from using the trail at this time. If you do not require to be in the area, please consider choosing an alternative route.”

Wildfire officials say the Syringa Creek fire may be more visible to residents of Castlegar as smoke conditions improve.

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Syringa Creek Park fire. (Photos by Stefanie Harron)