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A helicopter buckets the Brunswick Creek wildfire north of Boston Bar, on July 3. Dozens of properties in the East Kootenay region are under an evacuation alert after the Lussier River fire grew Saturday.Supplied/The Canadian Press
Dozens of properties in British Columbia’s East Kootenay region are under an evacuation alert as another out-of-control wildfire burns.
The Regional District of East Kootenay placed 72 properties in the Premier Lake area under an evacuation alert after the Lussier River fire grew Saturday.
It’s the latest B.C. wildfire notice asking people to be prepared to flee since twin blazes near Boston Bar in the Fraser Canyon spurred alerts and evacuations.
Information from the BC Wildfire Service shows one of the two fires has grown since Friday.
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The Brunswick Creek fire stretches across more than 30 square kilometres, up from roughly 28 square kilometres.
The wildfire service says cooler weekend temperatures have allowed them to make gains over the fires.
But it is also asking the public to stop behaviours that could hinder their work.
An overnight statement from the agency says that since Highway 1 reopened Saturday, between Boston Bar and Jackass Summit, drivers have been speeding through the fire zone and even stopping to film the ongoing firefighting efforts.
It says a drone was also seen flying near the southeast flank of the Brunswick Creek wildfire while emergency aircrews were fighting the blaze.
BC Wildfire Service says the drone put crews and the public at risk, and airtanker and helicopter activity was temporarily suspended.
A warning says wildfires are flight-restricted areas, and violations can result in fines of up to $25,000 and up to 18 months in prison.
The Wildfire Service adds that the speed limit on Highway 1 is 60 kilometres an hour, and there is no stopping in the fire zone.