Burn marks cause concern

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Invermere resident Nadine Hale is raising concern after discovering a burn mark near the Canadian Pacific Rail tracks at the south of town.

Hale found the burn mark on the evening of March 30, while out for a walk. It is immediately west of the tracks along the western shore of Lake Windermere, a few hundred metres south of Walker’s Lane.

According to Hale, the burn mark is about 10 to 15 metres by five metres in size, and spreads uphill from the track.

“It is incredibly concerning,” said Hale. “It seems it went about halfway up the slope to the forest (above).”

Hale suspects a spark from a passing train may have been the source of the burn.

She said that although she can’t be 100 per cent certain, the burn that left the mark “probably happened quite recently.” is is because she lives on the adjacent property and frequently walks in the area. She said it is “very likely” she would have seen the mark if the burn occurred months ago, prior to winter. e snow only left the slope a few weeks ago, leaving a small window of time in which she believes the burn could have happened. e Pioneer reached out to CP Rail for comment. CP Rail spokesperson Salem Woodrow promptly responded, but said she doesn’t know what the burn mark is. She said she would look into it, but added detailed answers could take time.

Other Invermere residents living above the tracks in south part of the community also expressed concern.

“It’s scary that close to home,” said Buzz Harmsworth, Hale’s neighbour.

“It could’ve been much worse during the summertime,” said Herb Weller, another neighbour.

Lana Banham runs the smallscale Homestead Harvest farm in the same area. She called the burn marks “eye-opening” and said “it’s a little terrifying to think that could happen while it’s still wet out.”

Invermere mayor Al Miller said the Invermere Fire Department planned to inspect the burn mark on April 3, but snow the night before postponed that plan. Still, he shared residents’ concern.

“If this would’ve happened in summer, it could’ve been scary,” said Miller. “It’s something we need to investigate when the conditions allow.”

Miller said a train spark causing a burn is “only an assumption.”

It might instead have been a cigarette butt discarded by somebody walking down the track.

“We do see that too,” said Miller. “I don’t want to jump to conclusions until we have solid evidence. Yes, it is a concern. We are going to look further into it.”

Hale said she is surprised at how flammable the grass is right now, considering the winter snow cover disappeared only a few weeks ago.

Sparks from campfires on the Hale’s property have already begun to light surrounding grass when they land, instead of simply extinguishing in the wet ground, as they often do in spring, she said.

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