A fast-growing wildfire has forced people in the small southeast B.C. community of Rock Creek to flee their homes.
The blaze broke out around 1:30 p.m. Thursday and has since grown to about 1,300 hectares, though officials said the size has been difficult to determine because of how much smoke it’s creating.
The Kootenay Boundary Regional District said an evacuation order is in place for a number of residents, including people living along Hulme Creek Road and Christion Valley Road.
Kettle River Provincial Park has also been evacuated, with campers told to leave on foot.
The B.C. Wildfire Service said the fire is burning just north of the junction of Highway 3 and Highway 33, and both highways were closed Thursday afternoon.
Firefighters from the village of Midway have joined 26 provincial wildfire personnel battling the blaze, and they’re being assisted by multiple air tankers and helicopters.
By 8 p.m., the blaze remained completely uncontained.
For the latest information on evacuation orders and alerts, visit the Kootenay Boundary Regional District website.
For the latest on highway closures, visit the DriveBC website.
