Like us on...
Follow us on...
50
n 12
-2 ve. dA
Thursd a y , Au g u s t 1 4 , 2 0 14
COMMUNITY
Serving the South Country, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford since 1898
44
FREE
1
451
3-42
Your Source for School Supplies
Fernie jams at Wapiti Music Festival
Fernie jams at WapitiPage 3 FERNIE
Heiko’s Trail Page 14 SUNDAY SOCIAL
Locals and visitors dance to live music at the fourth annual Wapiti music festival. For full story and more photos turn to page 3.
Show ‘N’ ShinePage 2
SPORTS
Kootenay Wildfires prompt evacuations By Katelyn Dingman Free Press Staff
T
Fernie running camp - Page 18
BUSINESS
Fernie Forge - Page 17
Photo by S. Kucharski
he Southeast Fire Centre is warning Fernie residents about a large amount of smoke forming in the area as a result of proactive burning that started Monday August 11. The Southeast Fire Centre is responding to a lightning-caused wildfire eight kilometers north of Fisher Peak. The wildfire is located in a very steep and dangerous terrain and the response team hopes to limit the potential growth and direction of the fire with this burnoff, a Southeast Fire Centre press release said. Their objective is to guide the fire toward control lines at the valley bottom and contain the fire in one specific area.
The heavy smoke resulting from this controlled burn-off is likely to reach the communities of Cranbrook, Elkford, Sparwood, Fort Steels, Fernie and Kimberley. An aggressive fire also broke out in the rural community of Kragmont near Baynes Lake on Monday, forcing residents to temporary evacuate the area. The 0.9 hectare fire was under control by 6 p.m. and no structures were lost, a Regional District of the East Kootenay’s press release said on Monday. “I commend the tireless work of all the responders,” Jaffray/Baynes Lake Fire Chief Dave Boreen said. “Had it not been for their swift action, this could have been a much more devastating event.” Last week, The Southeast Fire Centre responded to 84 lighting-
BREWMASTER DINNER AT LIZARD CREEK LODGE
caused fires, while the Wildfire Management Branch has been dealing with two wildfires, one of which again warranted an evacuation alert for residents in that area. The Slocan Park fire in the Regional District of Central Kootenay is estimated at 120 hectares, the Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations said in a press release this morning. Firefighters and helicopters responded to the fire but residents between 2826 and 3024 on Highway 6 were urged to evacuate. The Whitetrail Brook wildfire, eight kilometers east of Canal Flats, is estimated at 1,700 hectares and is 50 per cent contained. The Wildfire Management Branch and Incident Management teams continue to respond to these
Friday, August 15 - 7:00 pm An interactive dinner where Columbia Brewery Brewmasters and our Executive Chef, Steve MacLeod, work together to pair a 4 course meal with featured beers.
Cost: $85/Guest (includes tax and gratuity) Reservations are recommended, just call: (250) 423-2057.
wildfires. But with hot and dry conditions and the potential for more thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Southeast Fire Centre is urging to public take extra precautions in the backcountry, the press release said. In most of the Southeast Fire Centre the fire danger rating is ‘high,’ with large areas in the East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Revelstoke and Boundary regions listed as ‘extreme’. The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is reminding residents that a campfire ban went into effect on Tuesday, August 5 and continues to remain in effect. To report a wildfire, call 1-800-6635555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellular telephone.
KIDS HOWL AT THE MOON CAMPOUT August 16th Kids slumber party at Lost Boys Cafe. Fully supervised and a ton of fun! Register by calling 250.423.2435