Cranbrook, B.C., airport reopens after cancelling flights due to nearby wildfire

A wildfire just east of the Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook, B.C., led to flight cancellations on Monday, with the local First Nation evacuating some of its members.

The airport closed its airspace to all flights to prioritize room for B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) aircraft just after 5:30 p.m. PT. The airport had reopened by 7 p.m., after air tankers finished in the area.

"Commercial carriers may take some time to reschedule their flights, so please contact your carrier for updates," read a post on the airport's Facebook page.

BCWS said the St. Mary's River wildfire is estimated to be burning over an area of three square kilometres as of 10 p.m. PT and was likely caused by downed power lines in the area.

It led to around 50 homes in the ʔaq̓am Community being evacuated on Monday evening, according to Chief Joe Pierre.

"We had a very, very windy day here today," Pierre told Brady Strachan, guest host of CBC's Radio West. "I got information that there were some downed power lines just before — like maybe 10 minutes before — I got the call that there was a fire."

Pierre said the bone-dry conditions in the area, accompanied by gusting winds, led the fire to spread and caused the community to tell some of its residents to leave.

"It's very much affecting what we locally call the lower end of the reserve," he said. "The St. Mary's River is in between the fire and the City of Cranbrook itself.

"Then going north of that, there's a few farms and whatnot, but we don't have any immediate concerns for the City of Cranbrook or Kimberley."

An evacuation alert has also been issued for 23 properties in the Campsall Road area, west of Fort Steele, due to the fire.

The BCWS said strong winds are challenging crews in the area, who are being supported by helicopters and air tankers.

Pierre said the fire is likely highly visible for residents of Cranbrook, a community of around 27,000 residents in southeast B.C.

The airport usually runs flights to Calgary and Vancouver and served just under 38,000 people in the last quarter of 2022.