Helicopters haven’t been able to fight fire recently due to low visibility
Up to 147 firefighters, 10 helicopters now being used to fight the fire
The fire near Castlegar was discovered on Sept. 7
Helicopters have been collecting water in buckets to suppress eastern and northern flanks of fire
Evacuation alert and area restriction remains in place
Six fires are burning in the Winlaw area
At least 25 fires burning in West Kootenay
BC Wildfire crews used the cleanup project as an opportunity for chainsaw training
This technology could assist with future firefighting operations
‘Larger open burns pose an unnecessary risk and could detract from wildfire detection’
Stepping up prescribed burns is part of the provincial strategy
Many of the largest fires likely won’t be doused until the spring.
There were 17 new fires started on Sunday