A “significant” storm this morning has brought reports of multiple wildfires in Greater Trail, including one above West Trail that local firefighters are responding to.
Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue chief Dan Derby said crews were on the scene just before 8 a.m. He described the fire as “very small” and well up the mountainside, about 500 meters above the powerlines.
“I don’t feel it’s going to expand from what we found,” he said. “We are actioning it as we speak.”
You’re asked to steer clear of the area and not fly drones near the fire. The BC Wildfire map indicates the fire is less than one hectare. Another fire burning west of Castlegar is about the same size.
Derby said they also have a report of a fire north of the McKelvey Creek landfill, but it’s “quite a ways back” on the mountain and outside the local fire protection area.
A third fire was reported on Deer Park Mountain near Rossland that crews looked for but couldn’t locate. “We anticipate as the day warms up that we could have other fires pop up,” Derby said.
All work is being co-ordinated with BC Wildfire Service, he added.
The saving grace is that some rain fell with the storm, which Derby said typically gives crews some time to respond. But anyone who spots a wildfire can call 911 if it is within a community or *5555 to reach BC Wildfire.
