New Wap Creek wildfire at 240 hectares, blankets Revelstoke with smoke
New 240-hectare wildfire at Wap Creek sends smoke, ash, burnt needles onto the Revelstoke area on July 14. Officials suspect it is human-caused.
Blackened evergreen needles and ash sprinkled onto Revelstoke and an ever-thickening cloud of smoke tinted the sunset with an orange glow on Wednesday, both caused by a new 240-hectare wildfire located about 25 kilometres southwest of Revelstoke.
B.C. Wildfire Service is calling the wildfire the Wap Creek fire. It was discovered today, Wednesday, July 14, and a statement from the wildfire service says they suspect it is human-caused.
#BCWildfire Service is monitoring a fire located 25km SW of #Revelstoke and S of Three Valley Lake. This fire is estimated to be 240 ha, classified as “Out of Control” & highly visible to Revelstoke & surrounding areas. Suspected to be human-caused & will be under investigation. pic.twitter.com/pFhBk5unBO
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 15, 2021
The fire is listed as out of control.
The fire from the air
In this July 14 aerial photo from the B.C. Wildfire Service, the Wap Creek fire southwest of Revelstoke kicks off a plume of smoke. Photo: B.C. Wildfire Service
Ash, needles and smoke
Mountaineer reader Michael Watson found this piece of ash in his yard in Revelstoke. Photo: Contributed by Michael Watson
In a brief statement, B.C. Wildfire Service said that the fire is under investigation.
Wildfire smoke creates a red glow as the sun sets on Revelstoke on July 14, a day when ash chunks and burnt needles rained down on the city. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine
More to come
The Wap Creek area is fairly well known to backcountry enthusiasts in Revelstoke. The Wap Lake Forest Service Road branches off the Trans-Canada Highway just west of Revelstoke, proving access to the backcountry in the area.
The Wap Creek wildfire about 25 kilometres southwest of Revelstoke that flared up on July 14 deposited ash and evergreen needles all over town. Here’s a sample from the hood of a Dodge truck. pic.twitter.com/yNiiR179l9
— Revelstoke Mountaineer (@RevelstokeMTNR) July 15, 2021
We’ll update on this wildfire in the coming days, and the investigation into the cause.
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