Sunshine Valley under no immediate threat from 900-hectare wildfire, local fire dept. stresses

SUNSHINE VALLEY – While Highway 3 is currently closed between Sunshine Valley and Manning Park due to a wildfire, volunteer firefighters responsible for protecting the Sunshine Valley say there’s no immediate threat to the small recreational community located southeast of Hope.

The Norwegian Creek wildfire is located approximately 20 km east of Sunshine Valley. It remains active and has increased in size, the Sunshine Valley Volunteer Fire Department says.

As of Wednesday morning, it has swelled to 900 hectares.

“We have received several questions today regarding the increased smoke visible in and around Sunshine Valley,” SVVFD said. “BC Wildfire Service is aware of the incident and continues to manage the fire. Many of you may have noticed that Highway 3 was temporarily closed today (referring to Tuesday, July 21). We would like to clarify that this closure was for public safety due to reduced visibility from heavy smoke. The closure was put in place to help prevent motor vehicle accidents caused by poor visibility.”

While the increased smoke is certainly noticeable and can be unpleasant, the fire department stresses that there is currently no immediate threat to Sunshine Valley.

“Weather and wind conditions can cause smoke to become more or less visible from day to day. Although our prevailing winds are most often from west to east, changing conditions can occasionally bring smoke into the valley.

The volunteer fire department says it continues to monitor the situation closely as BCWS personnel actively manage the incident. It says if conditions change and there is any risk to Sunshine Valley, it will provide updates as soon as information becomes available.

The Sunshine Valley Volunteer Fire Department is encouraging residents to have a grab-and-go bag prepared for every member of their household and for pets.

“We understand that seeing increased smoke can be concerning, but at this time there is no immediate threat to our community. Thank you for remaining vigilant, staying prepared, and relying on official sources for information,” SVVFD said.