A forest fire has led to alerts and evacuation closures for the popular Bugaboo Provincial Park in the BC East Kootenay region on Sunday.
An evacuation alert was issued on Saturday night for three civic addresses and multiple areas of the park, including the SEPTET BUGABOO FALLS and BUGABOO and CMH LODGE recreation sites, for the East Kootenay Regional District.
The central areas of the Bugaboo Provincial Park were already closed due to flood damage a little less than two weeks ago, after almost 60 campers and hikers had to be evacuated through helicopter.
Now, BC Parks says on its website that a nearby forest fire is growing rapidly, and the agency anticipates closures of more sections of the park as a result.
“This will lead to the closures of the Bugaboo Provincial Park and other areas,” the agency said. “Please do not visit the area at this time.”
The forest fire is burning just southeast of the park, which has historically been popular for its BC’s increases and landscapes, and the BC Infire Wildfire service says that since Sunday morning he is not threatening any structure.
CBC News has communicated with BC Parks to find out if a campist was in the area when the evacuation alert was issued.
An evacuation alert means that people in the area should be ready to leave at any time, while an evacuation order means that people must go immediately.
The BC forest fire service said on its website that the fire is estimated at around 150 hectares of size, and it is suspected that it has been caused by lightning.
The authorities had warned about the significant risk of fires in the long weekend in BC, since heat and dry conditions were prepared to combine with rays and potentially create new forest fires.
A special air quality statement due to the smoke of forest fires covers a large strip of the BC center-northern, including Cariboo, Chilcotin and Prince George areas.
The province says that, as smoke levels increase, people must limit the time outdoors and keep the windows closed indoors if possible.
“Protect its inner air from the smoke from forest fires. The actions may include the use of a clean and good quality filter in its ventilation system and/or a certified portable air filter that can filter fine particles,” says the advisor.
On Thursday, the Cariboo Regional District issued an evacuation alert for a large area near Lake Tsetzi, which covers a structure, due to a nearby forest fire.
