Alert Issued For Lumby Area Wildfire
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It started in the area of Cooper’s Mountain Tuesday evening, and was spread by strong winds.
At last report, 8 hectares had been burned, and it was 2 km’s from the nearest homes.
Air tankers and helicopters dropped water and retardant on it.
An evacuation alert was issued around 10 pm for homes on Cooper Road, Hurt Road and Deffies Creek Road.
Those residents will have to leave on short notice should the fire get closer.
Lumby fire chef Tony Clayton said it was still a major concern, given the strong winds.
There’s no word yet on what caused the fire.
Update: 10 pm:
Lumby Fire Chief Tony Clayton says an evacuation alert has been issued for residents on Hurt Road, Cooper Road and Deffies Creek Road.
It means residents should prepare to leave on short notice should the fire come closer to their homes.
Clayton says the blaze is still a major concern, mostly due to the strong winds.
He says it’s about 2 kilometres from the nearest homes.
His department and forestry crews will be monitoring it all night.
Update: 9:15 pm
RDNO Area D director Rick Fairbairn, who has been watching the fire from his home, has heard an evacuation alert has been issued for Cooper Road and Hurt Road.
“Obviously there’s a concern. That’s right south of me. I’m on Deffies Creek Forest Service Road, and there’s fears it could come down the mountain.”
Kiss FM has not received anything official on any evacuation alerts from the regional district.
Fairbairn says in the last hour, they’ve had equipment and helicopters working the fire, and it looks like it’s subsided substantially.
“Maybe because it’s getting dark and they’ve called it off, or maybe they feel it’s under control, but I haven’t heard any more than that. I’ve just heard that the regional district may activate its EOC but we’ll see where that goes.”
The BC Wildfire Management Branch says the fire had consumed about 8 hectares, and the cause was not known.
Update 9 pm:
Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton says it’s west of Lumby but from what he’s heard Lumby is not in any immediate threat.
He says it looks to be in the area of the kite launch or where the community forest and high school forest programs are run.
“Rumour has it it may have been a smouldering slash pile that the wind picked up on, but nothing’s been confirmed yet,” says Acton.
He says fortunately it’s been wet, and other than the strong winds, he doesn’t think it would go anywhere.
There is a wildfire in the Lumby area.
The fire is said to be on Cooper’s Mountain, about 2 kilometres from the nearest homes.
The BC Wildfire Management Branch and the Lumby Fire Department have responded to the fire.
An eyewitness tells Kiss FM a air tanker has dropped retardant on the site, working along with a spotter plane.
High winds are not helping the situation.
The BX Swan Lake Fire Department was called at 8:50 pm for a “structure protection unit” at Cooper Road and Hurt Road.
Top photo: Brydon Grace
Bottom photos by Jerry Mason.
