The Island Pond wildfire 12 km south of Canal Flats has grown to more than 650 hectares overnight.

As a result of the spread of the fire a precautionary evacuation alert was issued for 55 properties in the Island Pond / Premier Lake area yesterday as the wildfire continues to burn between Skookumchuck and Canal Flats.

BC Wildfire Service (BCWS)/Southeast Fire Centre has 29 firefighters attacking the blaze, along with three helicopters, air tankers and heavy equipment working the fire.

The fire was discovered Sunday, July 30 after a tree hit a power pole. A report is circling that the tree was felled by someone collecting firewood but there has been no confirmation of this from authorities.

Power has been affected along parts of the highway corridor from de-energizing by BC Hydro crews to allow for firefighting operations.

Fire retardant has been placed around a cell phone tower in the path of the fire.

Highway 93/95 remains open to single lane alternating traffic. Check DriveBC for the latest updates.

Adding to the smoke in the area is another large nearby fire, located in the Middle Fork of the White River, about 40 kilometres due east of Fairmont Hot Springs.

Twenty firefighters with helicopters and air tankers are fighting this blaze, now at an estimated 280 ha.

The fire, which began July 29, is moving into an old burn area from 2003 and is not threatening any communities or infrastructure, BCWS reported.

“The fire is producing large amounts of smoke that might be visible in the region from Radium Hot Springs and Canal Flats and as far east as Alberta. It is not affecting air quality at this time but people with respiratory issues may wish to contact their health professionals,” BCWS noted on its active fires webpage.

Public access to the White-Middle Fork Forest Service Road in the Invermere Zone of the Southeast Fire Centre is now prohibited at the 45.5 kilometre point. The Lands Manager of the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District has ordered the road due to concerns about public safety.

About 10 km away, the 2.9 ha fire at Barr Creek continues to burn. Like the White River fire, it was started by lightning on July 25.

The Ward-Bloom fire south of Cranbrook near the US border remains active at 39 ha.

The lightning started fire in Verdant Creek, in Kootenay National Park and Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park also continues to burn, held now to about 4,833 ha.

As of July 31, Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park is once again closed to visitors until further notice. A partial re-opening of the park occurred late last week.

“Warmer temperatures will continue to produce increased fire activity along the remote southern boundary of the Verdant Creek fire. This activity, along with potential burn out operations will potentially produce a large smoke column that may be visible from the Bow and Columbia Valleys in the afternoons, and may settle into valley bottoms in the evening. This pattern is expected to continue for a few days,” BCWS stated.

Lead image: A photo of the Island Pond Fire, July 31, along Highway 93/95. Note the fire is right along the road, to ensure the safety of firefighters the highway will be single lane alternating for at least the next 24 hours. Photo by Sgt. Chris Newel/Kimberley RCMP

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