The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) reports a planned ignition on the Bill Nye Mountain wildfire was a partial success.

The planned ignition was partly completed on Sunday morning.

“In the southern part of the area identified for the planned ignition, the operation was a success. Due to increased fire activity in the north part of the area, planned ignitions were halted. Ground crews will monitor and mop up the strengthen the anchor point on the south and southwest flanks. Crews will continue to line locate for heavy equipment to establish machine guards to protect structures along the west flank. Helicopters will continue bucketing to support ground crews. Aerial monitoring of the fire is ongoing. Heavy equipment is constructing a machine guard along the west and north flank and around structures,” BCWS reported today.

Located seven kilometres southeast of Wasa, the lightning-caused Bill Nye wildfire is now an estimated 1,863.4 hectares.

The Regional District of East Kootenay has implemented an evacuation order and an evacuation alert in the vicinity of this fire. An area restriction in the vicinity of this fire is in effect. For the latest information on area restrictions, visit BC Wildfire News

Today there are 28 firefighters, two helicopters and three pieces of heavy equipment battling the fire.

East Kootenay wildfire update

BCWS reports two new regional fires today (July 26), with one on Corrigan Mountain, about 30 km southeast of Fernie. The lightning-caused fire is an estimated .06 ha.

A second has just appeared on the BCWS Wildfire Dashboard, about 3.5 km east of Bull River. The cause is undetermined at this time and no estimated size has been provided.

The Mineral Creek fire, 25 kilometres southwest of Invermere, is now an estimated 51 ha and is considered out-of-control. The fire discovered Friday, July 23, has now prompted an area restriction in its vicinity.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Today there are five firefighters and two pieces of heavy equipment working to install a wetline, which is a series of sprinklers along a fuel-free area to reduce the spread of low-intensity fire. More resources are expected to arrive on this fire today.

A third regional fire that remains out-of-control but holding in size at 325 ha is the Tanglefoot Creek fire, discovered July 16 about 15 km southeast of the Bill Nye fire.

The lightning-caused fire discovered July 16 in Dewar Creek about 2.5 km west of Price Lake in St. Mary Alpine Provincial Park, about 36 km northwest of Kimberley, is still out-of-control at 58 ha.

The nearby fire at Armour Creek, nine km southwest of the Dewar Creek fire and about 26 km northeast of Riondel, is out-of-control at 72.64 ha.

The lightning-caused Ptarmigan Creek wildfire five km north of Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park remains out-of-control at 62 ha.

A lightning ignited fire along Marian Lake Forest Service Road, eight km northeast of Castledale on the east side of Castle Mountain, is out-of-control at 40 ha. An area restriction is now in place.

Two other regional fires are being held and three more are under control as of this afternoon.

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