Residents of Silverton, B.C., ordered to leave due to wildfire

Silverton residents have been ordered to leave the B.C. village due to an advancing wildfire. 

The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) issued the order Wednesday evening for the village of around 200 people, which is located by Slocan Lake and the Valhalla Provincial Park in southeast B.C., in response to the Aylwin Creek fire. 

The order also covers 17 surrounding addresses in Electoral Area H. The village is located around 150 km east of Kelowna in southeast B.C.

Silverton Mayor Tanya Gordon told CBC News that she’s feeling “a little shocked, nervous and anxious” after the order went into effect. She also said it’s hard to see anything from the village because of the smoke.

“It’s very surreal now that it’s actually on the doorsteps,” she said. 

According to Gordon, residents were “very prepared” and most have already left. 

“We had a few days to prepare for it,” she said on Wednesday night. “And with the winds earlier today, I think a lot of people just expected it to happen.”

The Aylwin Creek fire was discovered on July 18 and is suspected to have been started by lightning, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS). The blaze is four square kilometres as of 8:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday.

The BCWS also considers it a wildfire of note, which means it’s highly visible or poses a potential threat to public safety. It’s one of four fires with such a designation in the province, along with the larger Komonko Creek wildfire which is east of it.

That wildfire occupies an area of around five square kilometres, with both wildfires having led to the closure of Highway 6 between Slocan and New Denver.

The regional district had previously ordered properties south of Silverton, in the Red Mountain Road area and east of Slocan Lake, evacuated due to the two fires.

Evacuees have been told to register for emergency services, if needed, at the Nakusp and District Community Complex in Nakusp, B.C.