TUESDAY JULY 28, 2015
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Vol. 64, Issue 144
Proudly serving Cranbrook and area since 1951
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CAROLYN GRANT PHOTO
The massive solar trackers turn their faces to an elusive sun at the grand opening of Kimberley’s SunMine on Monday, July 27. Kimberley’s SunMine is now officially supplying power into the BC Hydro grid. See more, Page 3.
Ward Creek fire contained, conditions still hazardous TRE VOR CR AWLEY
The Ward Creek fire has been 100 per cent contained and is in mop-up stage following action from an 44-man Ontario crew and heavy equipment last week. Located 30 kilometres west of Newgate and just north of the Canada/U.S. border, the fire was discovered last week and burned 110 hectares. The cause is under investigation. The area around Ward Creek is considered extremely dry and hasn’t received a lot of rain, according to Fire Information Officer Fanny Bernard. Since last Thursday, there have been 17 fire starts across the Southeast Fire Centre, according to Bernard. One spot fire was located in the Plumbob Mountain area, while another one was out in
Red Canyon west of Lake Koocanusa. Both were lightning caused and less than a hectare in size. “None of those are of any concerns to structures or communities, so they’re just little spot fires that are just being dealt with,” Bernard said. “This rain has been really good, although it’s been patchy.” She notes that even if there’s a little rain, it won’t have a big impact on hazardous fire conditions. “Anywhere where there’s been 5-10 millimetres of rain, which is kind of what many areas have had in the Southeast Fire Centre, the fire indices will bounce back quick with this warming trend that’s coming,” Bernard said. To date, there have already been over 1,342 fires across
the province this year, but Bernard says that right about now is when the season traditionally starts. “Date-wise, we’re just coming into fire season and we’ve just had a phenomenal amount of fires, so we still have quite a bit of summer to go,” she said. All campfire and open fire bans remain in effect. “Fire bans are still very much in effect and it’s going to be in effect until the public is notified and there’s no plans to lift it in the foreseeable future. “This hasn’t been very much rain. It seems like a lot of rain because it’s been so dry here in the region for so long,” Bernard said. To report a wildfire, call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 from a cellular phone.
THE ‘BLOB” IS TO BLAME
Severe drought ongoing in BC and East Kootenay
Warmest sea surface temperature off the coast of B.C. in 1,500 years heating rest up of province, meteorologist says ARNE PETRYSHEN
Drought conditions are set to continue, with warm weather returning this week for the East Kootenay. While Cranbrook and area received 6.6 mm of rain over the weekend, which has made conditions better, the precipitation numbers are far below normal. Matt MacDonald, Environment Canada meteorologist, said that compared to some parts of the province, the East Kootenay isn’t in too bad of shape. So far this month,
the airport in Cranbrook has reported 27 mm of precipitation, compared to the normal of 38.3. “So you aren’t fairing too bad,” MacDonald said. “Droughts are the kind of that kind of develops over the period of several months and not just a few weeks of dry weather.” He noted that May and June were both below the normal as well. This year there was 46 mm of rain in June, compared to the normal of 62 mm. In May, there was 25 mm of rain, compared to the normal of 44 mm.
“If we tally up the last three months worth of rains, Cranbrook has reported 97 mm,” he said. “Over that three-month period, the normal is 44 mm. So we’re still sitting at about 67 per cent of normal over the last three months.” MacDonald noted that it is certainly quite dry out. The drought levels are determined by the River Forecast Centre. The East Kootenay region is sitting at Level 2 - Dry, out of four levels.
See RECORD, Page 4