City of Kimberley under evacuation alert as wildfires close within 15 kilometres

The City of Kimberley and outlying areas are on evacuation alert due to wildfires burning roughly 15 kilometres west of the municipality, the city announced late July 19.

The evacuation alert covers the entire city, including the ski hill, as well as 66 properties in Area E west in the St. Mary's Lake region. The alerts were prompted by the Matthew Creek wildfire and two additional wildfires burning in the Tower Creek area. The Matthew Creek wildfire has grown to over 500 hectares since it was discovered on July 18.

"Given the current and forecasted conditions on both fires, particularly with ongoing hot, dry weather and little to no rain, the BC Wildfire Service has made the recommendation that Evacuation Alerts be issued," said City of Kimberley Fire Chief Will Booth. "This is the time for residents within both Alert areas to ensure they are staying informed from factual sources, are registered for the Regional Evacuation Notification System, and are taking steps to prepare themselves and their families should conditions worsen."

The BC Wildfire Service has mobilized equipment and is working on identifying control lines and establishing guards in the Matthew Creek area. Aerial resources have been assigned as the fires are burning in steep, hazardous terrain. In both the Matthew Creek and Tower Creek areas, crews are using indirect attack strategies—establishing control lines away from the fire's edge rather than working directly on the perimeter.

Kimberley was last put on evacuation alert in 2018 due to the Meachen Creek wildfire. The RDEK is reminding residents to register for the emergency notification system at www.rdek.bc.ca.