Lightning strike at Christina Lake

BC Forest Service firefighters quickly extinguished a wildfire at Christina Lake that started from a lightning strike on Tuesday, May 10. Photo courtesy of Wildfire Management Branch.

BC Forest Service firefighters made quick work of extinguishing a forest fire caused by a lightning strike on a west facing mountain ridge at Christina Lake, Tuesday, June 10.

The Wildlife Management Branch of the provinicial government was alerted to the situation when people in Christina Lake saw smoke rising from the ridge at 1 p.m. that day after a heavy rainfall and thunder storm rolled through the area at about 4 a.m.  

By the time firefighters extinguished the flames with the use of a helicopter, the fire had affected about .3 hectares or .9 acres of land. Water from nearby Moody Creek, Christina Lake and a small private pond were used to extinguish the fire.

“When firefighters arrived on scene they laid hose around the fire and mapped out the hot spots,” said Karlie Shaughnessy, a fire information officer with the Wildfire Management Branch in Castlegar.

The fire was located about half a kilometre across the ridge from one house, which is located about 3.5 kilometres up Stewart Creek Road. Residents were not home at the time.

The fire could have also affected three other homes on Stewart Creek Road and residents of West Lake Drive in Christina Lake.

Shaughnessy said firefighters were “never really concerned” about the fire reaching the homes because of the creek and damp conditions in the area.

Firefighters continue to monitor the situation today by mopping up hot spots, taking down any trees that may be still on fire or

To report a wildfire call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on most cell phones. For those living in high risk fire areas on rural properties there are things you can do to help protect your home. A complete home owner’s manual is available at www.bcwildfire.com.