Invermere Fire Rescue - Station 2200

Effective at 12:00 noon Pacific Time on Thursday, May 21, 2026, Category 3 open fire will be prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre.

A Category 3 open fire refers to any fire that burns:
- Material concurrently in 3 or more piles, each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
- Material in one or more piles, each exceeding 2 metres in height or 3 metres in width
- One or more windrows, not exceeding 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width
- Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares (2,000 square metres)

Also prohibited is the following equipment and activities:
- Air curtain burners
- Carbonizers

For full details, please visit: https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/category-3-open-fire-to-be-prohibited-in-the-southeast-fire-centre-2/

While this prohibition does not include Category 1 campfires or Category 2 open fires, it is important to continue exercising caution when doing burning of any kind. To learn more about open fire and safer burning visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions/open-burning

🔥 Campfire Safety Reminder 🔥

As we head into the long weekend, please remember to practice safe campfire habits to help protect our community and surrounding forests.

✅ Always check for current campfire bans or restrictions
✅ Keep campfires small and attended at all times
✅ Never leave a campfire unattended
✅ Fully extinguish your fire with water, stir the ashes, and feel for heat before leaving

Before lighting a campfire, check current bans and restrictions here:
👉 https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions

A single unattended or improperly extinguished campfire can have serious consequences. Let’s all do our part to keep our community safe and fire‑smart this long weekend. 🌲🔥

🔥 Wildfire Preparedness Week is next week — and you’re invited. 🔥
Join us for a local Wildfire Preparedness event focused on prevention, awareness, and keeping our community safe during wildfire season.

Many wildfires are human‑caused, and preventable. This event is a great opportunity to learn how small actions can make a big difference, ask questions, and access helpful resources.

📍 Event details and updates:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/share/18NYm6ZEBF/

As a reminder:
• Follow all current fire bans and restrictions: http://ow.ly/PSKe30smytQ
• Report wildfires immediately by calling *5555 or 1‑800‑663‑5555
• Use the BC Wildfire Service App to report fires or unsafe behaviour
• Android: https://ow.ly/5wTz50OOnka
• Apple: https://ow.ly/C2Hh50OOnkb

Preventing wildfires is everyone’s responsibility. We hope to see you there.

🚒🔥 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 🔥🚒

Join the Invermere FireSmart and East Kootenay FireSmart Team for a fun and informative Wildfire Preparedness Day Open House at the Invermere Fire Department on May 9th!

Come enjoy an exciting day for the whole family featuring:

🎶 Live music
🌭 Free food
🎯 Games & activities
🚒 Apparatus displays & fire hall tours
🔥 Wildfire preparedness & FireSmart information
👨‍🚒 Meet your local firefighters and partners
🎨 Face painting by Stephanie’s Face Painting

Special guests include:

🌲 Ministry of Forests
🌿 East Kootenay Invasive Species Council
🏺 CORE Heritage

Learn how to better protect your home, family, and community this wildfire season while enjoying a great community event.

📍 Invermere Fire Department
📅 Saturday May 9th
⏰ 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

We look forward to seeing you there!

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 – 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 (𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐭 𝟒𝟔𝟏𝟔)

The 𝐁𝐂 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞, in collaboration with 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 and 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬, will be conducting a 𝐥𝐨𝐰‑𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 on the 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 of the 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, within 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐭 𝟒𝟔𝟏𝟔.

This work is part of ongoing wildfire risk reduction efforts in Invermere and has been developed through several years of planning. The objective of the prescribed fire is to 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐮𝐩, 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡, and 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, and 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 from the impacts of severe wildfires.

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
📍 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐭 𝟒𝟔𝟏𝟔
East side of the CastleRock subdivision

𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 (weather dependent)
- 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲: Site preparation and readiness
- 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟎: Burn operations
- 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲: Continued work and transition to mop‑up
- 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: Mop‑up and monitoring (duration dependent on site conditions)

Active burning is expected to last up to 𝟒𝟖 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬, followed by 𝟑–𝟓 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 of 𝐦𝐨𝐩‑𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. Burning will only proceed if 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐟𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.

If conditions are not suitable, operations may be postponed.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬
- Approximately 𝟐𝟒.𝟏 𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 are planned to be treated within a larger 𝟒𝟗.𝟑 𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚
- The fire will be conducted under 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 by trained personnel
- Equipment and suppression resources will be on site to manage the fire safely
- Fire crews will remain in the area throughout the operation and post‑burn period

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭
Residents and travellers may experience:
- 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞 during operations
- 𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 after ignition
- 𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
- Smoke may 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, particularly during calm conditions

Traffic signage may be deployed if smoke affects visibility on nearby routes. Crews will remain on site following ignition to complete mop‑up and monitoring.

𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬
For public and crew safety:
- The treatment area and surrounding trails 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝟕 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬.
Please respect posted signage and closures.


𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 & 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲

𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬
Smoke may cause:
- Eye and throat irritation
- Respiratory discomfort
- Worsening of existing heart or lung conditions
- Residents are encouraged to:

Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed
- Use an air cleaner if available
- Limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity
- Seek medical advice if symptoms worsen

𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞
A temporary clean air refuge will be available in the 𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 for anyone seeking relief from smoke during operations.


𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – 𝐎𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞

On 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟎, 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐧, the 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫, will be on site 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭:
🕘 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
🕑 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Residents are welcome to stop by to ask questions or learn more about the prescribed fire.


𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞
To learn more about prescribed fire and its role in wildfire risk reduction, visit:
👉 www.prescribedfire.ca


𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

BC Wildfire Service
Fire Information Officer
📧 [email protected]

Jason Roe
Fire Chief, Invermere Fire Rescue
📧 [email protected]

Cass Dearlove
FireSmart Coordinator, Invermere Fire Rescue
📧 [email protected]

At 07:23 a.m. on April 6, 2026, Invermere Fire Rescue was dispatched to the 300 block of 10th Avenue following a report of flames and black smoke coming from a second-storey apartment balcony. Invermere Fire Rescue responded with 12 members and 4 apparatus.

Upon arrival, crews quickly brought the situation under control, extinguishing a fire involving a flower planter containing artificial materials. The fire had extended into nearby decking.

The investigation determined that the fire was likely caused by a cigarette that had been discarded in the planter the previous evening.

Invermere Fire Rescue would like to thank the resident for their quick actions in responding to the situation, which helped prevent the incident from becoming more serious. We would also like to thank the individual who promptly reported the fire, allowing for a rapid response.

Invermere Fire Rescue reminds the public that while quick action can make a difference, personal safety must always come first. If you encounter a fire, do not put yourself at risk attempting to extinguish it—leave the area and call emergency services.

Invermere Fire Rescue would also like to remind the public to always use proper ashtrays or metal containers with sand when disposing of ci******es. Potting soil and planter materials can become highly flammable when dry and are not safe for extinguishing smoking materials.