©BCWildfireService

Since July 29, at least 25 wildfires have been started across the West Kootenay as lighting storms peppered the region. A number of the fires have been extinguished, but 17 were still burning as of press time Tuesday morning. Most of the fires were under one hectare, but one fire near Castlegar and one near Nakusp were larger. The Northside Mt. Mackie fire was discovered Aug. 3. It is located between Castlegar and Nancy Green Provincial Park, about one kilometre off Highway 3. …Four of the Nakusp-area fires are out of control while the rest are now designated as being held. An earlier fire discovered a month ago on July 2 continues to burn at Little Cayuse Creek west of Syringa Creek Provincial Park. It has burned 12.48 hectares but is considered under control. More lightning is forecast across the West Kootenay this week.