The entire City of Kimberley, British Columbia, with a population of approximately 9,000, has been placed under an evacuation alert due to a rapidly spreading wildfire burning west of the East Kootenay region.The Regional District of East Kootenay has also issued separate alerts for 66 properties southwest of Kimberley, affected by two distinct fires.While residents are not being ordered to evacuate immediately, they are advised to prepare for potential displacement.The Matthew Creek wildfire, discovered on Saturday, has grown to 5.67 square kilometers and is fueled by steep terrain, strong winds, and spruce-balsam forests.Although fire behavior eased by Sunday, officials warn of increased visibility during peak heat hours.Heavy equipment and three helicopters are deployed to combat the blaze.Additional fires in the St.Mary Lake area, linked to lightning strikes, have also prompted alerts.Environment Canada has issued a yellow air-quality warning for the region due to smoke from wildfires.The Southeast Fire Centre reports over 4,000 lightning strikes across British Columbia on Friday, contributing to the outbreak of multiple fires.