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Regional Wildfire Update: July 24, 2026

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Below is your regional wildfire update for July 24, with information from the BC Wildfire Service:

Weather

The East Kootenay region is expected to stay under the influence of an upper ridge through Saturday. Over the past 24 hours, different areas of the Bootleg Complex received varying amounts of precipitation.

Today, we can expect mid- to high-level cloud cover, along with some smoke moving in from the western part of the province. Temperatures are expected to gradually warm to around 30°C, with a slight increase in relative humidity.

There is still a chance of thunderstorms and lightning across the region tonight, with the possibility of additional precipitation. Winds are also expected to pick up gradually between today and Saturday as a potential cold front approaches. Sustained winds are forecast to reach 15–22 km/h today, with gusts of 30–40 km/h possible this afternoon..

N11020 – Matthew Creek

  • The Evacuation ALERT remains in place for the City of Kimberley, including all properties within the municipal boundaries due to the Matthew Creek Wildfire. Details HERE
  • Estimated size - 869 ha
  • BC Wildfire has uploaded a simple 30-second flyover video of a portion of the Matthew Creek wildfire that can be viewed here: N11020 July 23, 2026

Resources

  • Incident Management Team, 2 Initial Attack teams, 7 helicopters, 18 pieces of heavy equipment, and 11 structural protection personnel. Learn more about wildfire resources by clicking HERE

Fire behaviour

  • Recent precipitation across the Bootleg Complex may help reduce fire behaviour today, with varying amounts received on the Matthew Creek, Tower Creek, and Tower Creek 2 wildfires.
  • Strengthening winds and the potential for thunderstorms may still contribute to elevated fire behaviour and continued smoke production.

Operations

  • Contingency lines are being established to strengthen fire control efforts and support containment objectives.
  • Along Matthew Creek FSR, heavy equipment continues to reopen road access while crews assist with control line construction.
  • Heavy equipment continues improving access and completing skidding operations along the contingency guard on Mark Creek FSR.
  • Structure Protection personnel have completed triage assessments of priority values.
  • Helicopters continue supporting ground operations by bucketing water, transporting personnel, and moving equipment and supplies as needed.

 

N10947 – Tower Creek #2 and N10944 – Tower Creek (Meachen Area)

  • The Evacuation ALERT remains in place for 66 properties in the St. Mary Lake Area (Electoral Area E) due to the Tower Creek Wildfires. Details HERE
  • (N10947) Estimated size - 250 ha
  • (N10944) Estimated size – 12 ha

Resources

  • Incident Management Team, 7 helicopters, and 11 structural protection personnel. Learn more about wildfire resources by clicking HERE.

Fire behaviour

  • Recent precipitation across the Bootleg Complex may help reduce fire behaviour today
  • Despite recent rain, forecast winds and possible thunderstorms may contribute to elevated fire behaviour and continued smoke production today

Operations

  • Crews are using indirect attack strategies by establishing control lines away from the fire’s edge
  • Crews and partner agencies are identifying and flagging a potential hand-built, fuel-free control line along Trapper Road and nearby drainage areas.
  • A helicopter pad will be constructed to improve access for crews, equipment, and aviation resources
  • Structure Protection crews have completed triage and deployed equipment to priority values
  • Helicopters will continue supporting suppression

N11036 – Calamity Creek (South of the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Provincial Park)

  • Estimated size - 70 ha

N21071 – Jumbo Creek

  • Estimated size – 22 ha

N11167 – Tower Creek #5

  • Estimated size – 0.3 ha
  • This is a new start as of July 24

N11152 – Tower Creek #4

  • Estimated size – 0.01 ha
  • This is a new start as of July 24

N21154 – Tatley Creek

  • Estimated size – 0.009 ha
  • This fire is BEING HELD
  • This is a new start as of July 24

With several lightning strikes throughout the region last night and strong winds expected this afternoon, it is critical that if you see smoke or a wildfire, you use the BC Wildfire App to report it or call 1-800-663-5555 from any landline or *5555 from your cellphone.

The most up-to-date wildfire information is available at www.bcwildfire.ca