A Slocan Valley wildfire has shut down Highway 6 in both directions and forced the community of Silverton to be put on an evacuation alert.

B.C. Wildfire Service announced Friday evening that the Aylwin Creek fire and Komonko Creek fires on opposites of the highway south of Silverton had forced an approximately 12-kilometre closure. 

Residents of nearby properties were previously ordered to evacuate the area following the fires that ignited Wednesday evening during a lightning storm. 

"Ground crews and air tankers continue suppression efforts, however hot and dry conditions are significantly increasing fire behaviour," BCWS said on social media.

Shortly after, the Regional District of Central Kootenay issued an evacuation alert for Silverton. An alert is not an order, but requires residents to be ready to leave at a moment's notice.

An evacuation order was also issued by the RDCK for 21 waterfront properties on Slocan Lake near a pair of wildfires.

The properties are located close to the Nemo Creek fires, which were 0.6 and 0.009 hectares in size respectfully as of 5 p.m. on Friday. The Nemo Creek fires are on the western side of Slocan Lake, directly across from the Aylwin and Komonko Creek fires.

The order includes the following parcels:

031-885-551

005-896-215

007-629-966

014-040-859

008-541-612

017-493-544

017-493-536

014-039-877

014-040-646

014-040-590

024-636-002

014-040-620

017-493-552

014-040-484

012-162-850

007-700-326

014-040-638

014-039-923

017-075-530

Residents without a pre-arranged emergency location who require support as asked to report to W.E. Graham Community School at 915 Harold St. in Slocan. Pets are asked to have appropriate cages, food, water and identification.

A wildfire in the forest south of Blewett meanwhile continues to grow following a lightning storm earlier this week. 

The Eagle Creek fire is now seven hectares large, or five hectares bigger than it was Thursday, according to B.C. Wildfire Services.

The Argenta Creek fire burning east of Argenta in the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy, which remains 45 hectares.

The storm Wednesday evening ignited new fires across the Nelson and Slocan Valley areas, but the majority remain less than one hectare in size. Two small fires north of Nakusp are also now being held.

The Nelson Star will continue to provide wildfire updates as they are made available by B.C. Wildfire Services and the Southeast Fire Centre.