By Steve Hubrecht
Some Toby Benches residents have been able to go home, and other Columbia Valley residents have been able to breathe a little easier after the evacuation order stemming from the Horsethief Creek was recently decreased in size, and evacuation alert for surrounding areas was rescinded.
The Horsethief Creek fire began burning on Monday, July 24 and prompted an evacuation order that included 27 properties in the Horsethief Creek area, including Bear Mountain Area, Lake Enid and the westernmost parts of the Toby Benches. A related evacuation alert was issued for the rest of the Toby Benches, Lake Lillian, Mount Forster and Westside Road between Radium Hot Springs and Invermere and included 1,041 properties.
On Sunday, July 30 the evacuation alert covering those 1,041 properties was rescinded. For 26 out of the 27 properties under evacuation order the order was downgraded to an alert. A solitary dwelling remains under evacuation order.
The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) noted that cooperative weather over several days has resulted in reduced wildfire activity, allowing wildland firefighters to make “good progress” in battling the blaze.
The RDEK was quick to add, however, that Horsethief Creek wildfire remains active.
“It is important for people within the evacuation alert area to remember that they should stay prepared and be ready to leave on a moment’s notice should conditions change and an order needs to be re-issued,” said regional emergency operations centre director Christina Carbrey in a press release.
The Horsethief Creek fire remains mapped at 1,020 hectares in size and firefighters are continuing to use direct, parallel and indirect fire suppression methods at key areas of the fire’s perimeter to establish control and contingency lines.
At total of 116 firefighter are involved in the battling the Horsethief Creek, Yearling Creek and Mia Creek fires, along with 11 helicopters and 12 pieces of heavy equipment.
The Yearling Creek fire is estimated at 1,304 hecatres in size, and Nipika Mountain Resort and the Cross River Canyon Recreation Site, Cross River Education and Retreat Centre and Cross Rive Forest Service Road remain under evacuation order as a result of the fire.
The Mia Creek fire is estimated at 881 hectares in size.
For the latest status of all wildfires in BC, visit www.bcwildfire.ca.
