Update: 12:45 p.m.
Raven Walkus was at her home south of Golden on Wednesday night when she saw the flames light up the mountain beside her.
“It was pretty alarming,” she says.
“We first saw the flames from my yard here ... shortly after 9 p.m. and that's when we started to get really concerned.”
They packed up their belongs and were put on evacuation alert. She didn’t sleep at all and watched the fire all night.
“It's on the other side of the river, which made me feel a little bit better, but I know how quickly it can jump the river. It really doesn't take much,” she says.
Gusty winds drove the aggressive fire behaviour, which challenged containment lines in the afternoon on July 24 through the overnight period and into the early morning, according to BC Wildfire Service.
“Crews were forced to tactically pull back from the fire and switched their focus to structure protection,” says a fire information officer. “Crews and the local fire department worked through the night establishing structure protection.”
Alex Kostiuk, a truck driver in the area, evacuated his home on Wednesday and worked all day moving equipment to help contain the fire. On Thursday, he was back at the fire helping with equipment.
Glacier Media did speak with one business in Parson who said they "did not loose their building, unlike many community members who did."
On Thursday, residents woke up to smoke and also rain.
"We're still under an alert. But yeah, I'm feeling much better. I don't see flames anymore,” says Walkus. “You hear a lot about the fires all over the province, all over Canada, all over Alberta … but for the hit so close to home, it definite is tough.”
The Town of Golden says the fire remains active but weather is working in their favour.
"A shift in weather conditions including rain and a north wind are expected to help reduce fire activity,” says a spokesperson. "The leading edge of the fire currently lies on the west side of the valley approximately across from Mitchell Road on the east side and the Rauch Road area on the west side.”
The fire on the east side of the river, near Rauch Road is being contained.
BC Wildfire Service says the last time they were able to update the size was days ago on July 23 as heavy smoke is preventing officers from getting a track of the fire.
"A response officer is working to get a track and the size will be increasing significantly,” says the fire information officer.
Update: 10:30 a.m.
The Town of Golden has confirmed structures have been destroyed in a wildfire.
"We do believe structures have been lost, but we have no further information on how many or what type of structures at this time," says a spokesperson.
"Assessments are underway and we will provide information once it has been verified."
Glacier Media confirmed the lost structures are in Columbia Shuswap Regional District Electoral Area A (rural Golden).
Original: 7 a.m.
Highway 95 is closed south of Golden due to a growing wildfire.
DriveBC is reminding travellers that Highway 95 is closed in both directions between Golden and Edgewater. Highway 1 through Golden is not affected.
An update from the BC Wildfire Service early Thursday morning put the Dogtooth FSR fire at 133 hectares.
The lightning sparked fire was discovered on July 22 and is burning out of control west of Highway 95. Another smaller fire is also burning further north, on the east side of the highway.
Evacuation orders have been issued in the community of Parson and a reception centre is set up at Golden Senior Centre. Parson is located on Highway 95, 45 km southeast of Golden.
