The wildfire near Telegraph Creek, British Columbia is still burning. According to Amy Riebe with the British Columbia Wildfire Service, firefighters have contained about 11 percent of the blaze, but work is still ongoing.
Telegraph Creek is a small community along the Stikine River. In early August, according to Riebe, the fire was started by a lightning strike.
“It was first reported on August 1,” she said. “There were quite a few fires reported at that time when lightning went through British Columbia.”
The community of Telegraph Creek has been evacuated, and another town to the south, Glenora, has also been put under an evacuation order. As of August 21, approximately 96,000 acres of land have been burned. A damage assessment to the area has begun, Riebe said, but it will be awhile before that is completed.
“The recovery effort is underway, but it will take awhile,” she said.
Riebe also said that 179 firefighters and support staff are working to put out the fire. She added that several members of the Tahltan Nation, which made up a large percentage of the Telegraph Creek population, are also assisting.
In Southeast Alaska, many communities are pitching in to help however they can. Alaska Waters, a Wrangell tour/charter company, has offered a special discount for several excursions to raise money for Telegraph Creek. Fifty percent of the proceeds will go to support the Telegraph Creek Community. Information can be seen on their website, alaskawaters.com.
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