The Regional District of Central Kootenay has issued an evacuation alert for residents in the Slocan Valley because of a spreading wildfire burning west of Nelson.
The Slocan Park wildfire, which was sparked by lightning on Saturday and has now spread to an estimated 100 hectares, is located about two kilometres north of Highway 6 near Slocan Park. The alert affects residents of Slocan Park and Crescent Valley.
Regional Fire Chief Terry Swan said on Tuesday the Southeast Fire Centre dispatched a 20-person ground attack crew, five helicopters and two small bombers to the site.
He said firefighters are not concerned about the threat to the community and will continue to battle the blaze until it鈥檚 contained. Residents are being asked to be prepared to leave at a moment鈥檚 notice, but firefighters
The evacuation alert is a precautionary measure, he said, adding the fire is moving up the mountain away from homes.
The region鈥檚 weather forecast, according to Environment Canada, is for hot, dry weather to continue for another week, with temperatures hovering in the mid 30s until next week.
Elsewhere, an evacuation order remains in effect for the Chelaslie River fire, located seven kilometres south of the Chelaslie River in the Cariboo region.
That fire started on July 8 and has grown to an estimated 84,000 hectares.
The evacuation order affects residents in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, BC Parks has also told all cabin owners in Entiako Provincial Park to leave, while some residents in the Cariboo Regional District remain on evacuation alert.
So far this season, fire has torn through about 225,335 hectares of forest.
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