Update: The Regional District of East Kootenay has issued an evacuation order for 27 properties and an evacuation alert for 46 properties due to the Matias Creek wildfire. The ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation Council has issued an evacuation alert for the entire reserve, totalling 208 addresses.
Those on evacuation order includes all properties on Kootenay No. 3 Road with addresses numbering between 3360-3590.
Regional Emergency Operations Centre Information Officer Loree Duczek said they were successfully evacuated in the afternoon.
“Late this afternoon a tactical evacuation was performed by RCMP and RDEK firefighters in response to the rapidly evolving situation of the Madias Creek wildfire. They were quick to respond, and everyone was able to get out safely.”
Addresses on alert include 2080-2400 Kootenay No. 3 Road, 2380 and 2410 Alpine Road, 5250 Tegart Road, all properties on Elkhorn Close and Elkhorn Boulevard and the entirety of the ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation Council.
An Emergency Support Services (ESS) Reception Centre has been established at the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce in the Lion’s Hall.
Evacuees are asked to check in and register at the Reception Centre or online at ess.gov.bc.ca.
The Madias Creek fire was discovered on July 22 and is at least 1.1 hectares. It’s believed to be human caused.
More information to come.
Original: RCMP and RDEK firefighters have performed a tactical evacuation in response to the Madias Creek fire north of Fairmont Hot Springs.
The fire is on the east side of Highway 93/95 by Crooked Tree Road and Kootenay No. 3 Road approximately seven kilometres north of Fairmont.
Highway 93 is closed between Kootenay No. 3 Road and the Bench. A detour is in place.
RDEK officials said a Emergency Reception Centre location is currently being established.
There is no word yet on if any properties are included under the evacuation.
Residents are asked to avoid the area to give responders room to action the fire.
More information to come.
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