BC firefighters will be joined by 24 Ontario suppression personnel on the Galena Bay Fire today, says a statement from the Southeast Fire Centre.
Crews recently in from Ontario will team up with their BC counterparts on the Galena Bay fire today bringing the total number of firefighters to 58. Fire crews are working alongside the five helicopters and 18 pieces of heavy equipment to continue extending the existing fireguard around the fire.
The statement said the fire is now 40% contained and has been mapped at 2,084 hectares in size.
The Ministry of Forests and Range has closed the Halfway River and Saint Leon Forest Service roads to protect public safety and facilitate fire management activities.
An evacuation alert issued by the Regional District of the Central Kootenay and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District remains in place. For more information please contact the Emergency Operations Centre at 250-352-7701.
Smoke from the Galena Bay fire is visible across the region. It may affect travel along Highway 23 and 31. Please contact the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure at
www.drivebc.ca or call 1-800-550-4997 before travelling in the area.
Meanwhile, an 80-hectare fire at Mulvehill Creek that was caused by lightning is being monitored as it burns itself out. This fire, which is 11 km south of Revelstoke, does not threaten any roads or buildings.
The public reports more than half of all wildfires. Please continue to report smoke or flames by calling the toll-free emergency line at 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on most mobile networks. For further information, please visit the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch website at
www.bcwildfire.ca, or call 1-888-3FOREST.
