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District lifts evacuation alert as area wildfires are ‘under control’

Fire suppression equipment, firefighters withdraw
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A number of properties along Cameron and Limbert roads were under evacuation alert due to late-season wildfires that started on Thursday, Nov. 17. (Graphic/District of Kent)

Two late-season wildfires that have been burning in Agassiz-Harrison since Nov. 17 are now listed as “under control.”

On Thursday, November 24, the District of Kent announced that the evacuation order issued for properties near the Limbert Mountain fire has now been canceled. Equipment and structure protection elements such as sprinklers have been removed from the area and crews are no longer actively on-site for either fire.

In a statement, the Agassiz Fire Department thanked its mutual aid partners – Popkum, Seabird Island and Harrison Hot Springs fire departments as well as the district’s Emergency Operating Centre, Public Works department, B.C. Wildfire Services, Canadian Pacific Rail and Emergency Management B.C.

RELATED: Multiple fire departments join the fight against two Agassiz area wildfires

Both the Bear Mountain and Limbert Mountain fires started on Thursday, Nov. 17, with local firefighters arriving to the Limbert Mountain wildfire at about 4 a.m. that day. At about 11 a.m., there were reports of a second wildfire in the Seabird Island area up on Bear Mountain. An evacuation alert was issued for the Limbert Mountain area homes later that morning; it never escalated to an evacuation order. Limbert and Cameron roads were blocked off from non-essential traffic while firefighters and first responders worked.

The Seabird Island Fire Department assisted B.C. Hydro with the Bear Mountain fire; B.C. Hydro became involved because the fire was on their right-of-way. Popkum firefighters helped battle the Limbert Mountain fire and Harrison Hot Springs firefighters were on hand to provide additional coverage in the event of more incidents around the community.

Both fires were determined to be human-caused, according to B.C. Wildfire Service. The Limbert Mountain fire razed 15 hectares before coming under control, and the Bear Mountain fire spread to 12 hectares.


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adam.louis@ ahobserver.com

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