Ezra Creek wildfire remains out of control at 116 hectares north of Castlegar

Smoke rises from the Ezra Creek wildfire northeast of Castlegar on Aug. 26. The lightning-caused fire was mapped at 116 hectares Thursday afternoon and remained out of control.

Credit: BC Wildfire Service

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The Ezra Creek wildfire northeast of Castlegar remained out of control at 116 hectares Thursday afternoon following rapid growth a day earlier. Three smaller lightning-caused fires in the Greater Trail area were listed as being held or under control.

The BC Wildfire Service lists the Ezra Creek fire, N51938, as discovered Tuesday, Aug. 25. The Regional District of Central Kootenay places the fire in Electoral Area I, northeast of Castlegar.

The fire was initially estimated at less than one hectare before growing Wednesday. An RDCK bulletin issued at 6 p.m. Wednesday placed it at 200 hectares, while the BC Wildfire Service mapped it at 116 hectares Thursday afternoon.

Helicopters and airtankers were responding to the fire, which was receiving a full response. No evacuation alerts or orders were in effect in the RDCK, and the BC Wildfire Service had not imposed an area restriction around the fire.

The Ezra Creek fire is believed to have been caused by lightning. Under BC Wildfire Service terminology, an out-of-control wildfire is spreading or is expected to spread beyond its current perimeter or control line.

South of Castlegar, the 0.72-hectare Johnson Creek fire near Birchbank was classified as being held Thursday. Two initial attack crews were listed as responding.

The Beaver Creek fire near Champion Lakes was under control at 0.3 hectares, while the Kelly Creek fire east of Fruitvale remained under control at 0.63 hectares. Both fires are listed as lightning-caused.