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FR E E
Elk Valley celebrates Wildfire calls for evacuation Canada Day
in Baynes Lake
MON-TUES MADNESS! Ask us for details.
1221 7 Ave, Hwy 3 Fernie
WWW.FERNIEPIZZAANDPASTA.CA
By Sarah Kucharski Free Press Staff
COMMUNITY
A
2nd annual Dumpster Art Project - Page A15 BUSINESS
Elkford Drug Store opens - Page A17 ENTERTAINMENT
Touring band Sun K perform - Page A16
SPORTS
Roller girls skate to win - Page B7
Women on stilts, decked out in red and white led the Canada Day Pet & Bike Parade around the Fernie Aquatic Centre. For more photos and the full story, turn to pages A10 and A11. Photo by K. Dingman
n evacuation alert was sent out to residents of the Kragmont and Baynes Lake areas on Sunday morning following a wildfire that broke out earlier on Saturday. An earlier mandatory evacuation order in Kragmont was later rescinded by Sunday afternoon. Under the order, Kragmont residents were informed to leave immediately and register at the Jaffray Community Hall. The presence of strong winds throughout the late afternoon on Saturday and into the night created “very aggressive fire behaviour” in a wildland fire that broke out over the weekend, according to Communications Manager for the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Loree Duczek. Overnight precipitation and lighter winds helped to settle the fire since it initially flared. By Tuesday morning, approximately 75 per cent of the fire had been contained and the BC Wildfire Service obtained a solid GPS reading, mapping the fire at 117 hectares. Forty-two firefighters were on scene Tuesday to contain the blaze. In Kragmont, the evacuation was applicable to residents living in properties south of 1347 Waldo Rd. — including Conroy Road, Tranquility Road, Gavin Road, Canyon Cut Off, Grasmere-Dorr Road, Dorr Cut Off Road and Elko Grasmere Road. As a precaution, Baynes Lake residents were placed under an evacuation alert. “Now is the time for people in the Baynes Lake area to get prepared in the event that conditions worsen and the Evacuation Order boundary needs to be expanded. We encourage people to gather important documents, medications, papers, and personal supplies so that they are ready to go should an order be issued,” advised Duczek. Baynes Lake residents living north of 1347 Waldo Rd. to Kikomun Road were advised to follow evacuation protocol. According to Duczek, the RDEK declared a State of Local Emergency for both areas and the local emergency programs were activated to coordinate the evacuation orders and alerts as well as provide Emergency Social Services to support those affected by the wildfire. The BC Wildfire Service worked to contain the fire, which blazed south of Baynes Lake, near the Elk River. Air tankers were used to douse the fire and helicopters are continuing to drop water while ground crews and heavy equipment tended to the flames on site, according to an RDEK press release issued at approximately 3:30 a.m. on July 5.
OPEN DAILY JUNE 27 - SEPTEMBER 6