Tower Creek Fire, British Columbia

Weather: The East Kootenay region is expected to remain under the influence of an upper ridge through today. We can expect sunny conditions, with reduced smoke and cloud cover across the region. Temperatures are forecast to remain steady over the next several days, accompanied by a decrease in relative humidity. Sustained winds are expected to increase to 18–25 km/h today, with gusts reaching 40 km/h this afternoon. Fire behaviour: Forecast weather conditions, reduced cloud cover, and less transitory smoke from other incidents, may contribute to increased fire activity and continued smoke production on this incident today. Increased drying conditions, coupled with an abundance of dead and receptive fuels, are creating conditions more favorable for fire growth and periods of elevated fire behaviour. Operations: Work is underway using indirect attack strategies. This is where crews and resources establish control lines away from the fire's edge rather than working directly on the perimeter. Natural barriers, roads, trails, fuel breaks, or constructed guard may be used to help contain the fire. Learn more about attack types. Crews are maintaining fuel free and establishing contingency guard in preparation for planned ignitionCrews have completed access and containment guard and are now waiting for fuels to be receptive to planned ignitionsStructure Protection crews have completed triage and have deployed equipment to identified priority values in the St Mary Lake area and values immediately east and west of the lakeHelicopters will continue to support suppression activities bucketing to cool fire activityPlanned ignitions Ignitions are being planned for Tower Creek wildfire N10944 with the goal of bringing the wildfire to the guard and into operable ground. Ignitions will only go ahead if weather and site conditions align to create a safe and effective burning window. Ignitions could begin as early as Wednesday, July 29. An incident management team has been assigned to the Bootleg Complex which includes the Tower Creek (N10944). Learn about Incident Management Teams. Public Safety: An evacuation alert has been issued by the Regional District East Kootenay (RDEK). More information can be found on their website.