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UPDATED: Evacuation order issued for Moyie/Munroe Lake/Koocanusa area

More than 200 more properties on the south end of Moyie are now also under evacuation
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A wildfire has forced an Evacuation Order in the Moyie/Munroe Lake areas.

UPDATE (9/3/2017 9:30 am)

BREAKING: An Evacuation ALERT has been upgraded to an Evacuation ORDER for the area on the west side of Koocanusa Lake from Gold Bay south to the US border including:

• Sunshine Houseboats

• Newgate

• Sandy Shores

• Madera Ranch

Residents must leave the area immediately and must not return until this order is rescinded. Evacuees must register at the Cranbrook Curling Rink 1777 2nd St. N. Cranbrook B.C.

In addition, an Evacuation ALERT has been issued for the area on the east side of Koocanusa Lake, from Elk River Bridge to the US border between Highway 93 and Koocanusa Lake. This includes Roosville, Grasmere, the Tobacco Plains Indian Band and recreational properties in Edwards and Loon Lakes.

The purpose of this Alert is to prepare you to evacuate your premises or property should it be found necessary. Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to evacuation; however, you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.

For more information visit the Regional District of East Kootenay website or Facebook page.

More information on the current wildfire situation is available on the BCWildfire website, Twitter feed or Facebook page. Information on roads and highways can be found on DriveBC’s website and Twitter feed.

An Evacuation ORDER also remains for the 36 homes on the aq̓am reserve where a large wildfire has been burning since Friday. Much of the Moyie and Munroe Lake areas also remain under Evacuation ORDER.

UPDATE (9/2/2017 2:19 pm):The Regional District of East Kootenay has expanded its evacuation order for 223 more properties on the south end of Moyie.

The evacuation order area includes:

  • Moyie Townsite south to Stone Creek including Eagles Nest RV Resort, Braunagel Road and Moyie Shores Estates.

RCMP and Search and Rescue are hand-delivering order notices to properties in the affected area.

“The Lamb Creek Fire is challenging fire suppression efforts and is once again very active today. While the fire is most active on the north face, the possibility of a shift in winds and the continued volatile conditions have prompted to recommend the RDEK issue an Evacuation Order,” explains RDEK spokesperson Loree Duczek. “Our first priority is public safety. These decisions are not made lightly and everyone within the evacuation order area needs to leave immediately.”

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An evacuation order has been issued for parts of Moyie Lake and Munroe Lake due to a nearby wildland fire threatening the area.

The order, issued by the Regional District of East Kootenay, is due to immediate danger to life safety stemming from the Lamb Creek fire. Members of the RCMP and Search and Rescue are expediting this action.

“The Lamb Creek fire was hit with changing winds this afternoon and the fire behaviour has challenged all of the fire suppression efforts,” said Duczek.

“Because of the extremely dry conditions, and current fire behaviour an evacuation order has been issued.”

RELATED: How to prepare for an evacuation

The fire is burning at an estimated 220 hectares in size, according to the provincial wildfire service.

The evacuation order is in effect for the the area north of the townsite of Moyie to the Swansea Bridge (including Poto Rico Road; the Westside of Moyie Lake from Aurora Estates north including Greenbay, Mineral Lake and Monroe Lake shown on the map associated with this order.

Evacuation alerts also issued

Additionally, an evacuation alert has been issued in Ft. Steele, St. Mary and ?Aqam area due to another wildfire that was discovered on Friday.

RELATED: Wildfire closes air traffic at Cranbrook airport

“An evacuation alert informs residents of the threat of a potential or impending danger. It is intended to give people time to gather things and prepare themselves so that they are ready to go should the situation worsen and an Evacuation Order be issued,” said Duczek.

“We encourage people within the evacuation alert area to put together important papers (like insurance papers), medications, valuables, supplies for children and pets, and other important items so that in the event things progress and they are asked to evacuate, they are ready to go.”

RELATED: B.C. wildfire crews prepare for a scorching August


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trevor.crawley@cranbrooktownsman.com

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