Sunday Morning Wildfire Wrap

By Duane Grandbois

Aug 12, 2018 | 9:02 AM

There have been 21 new BCwildfire starts in the Kamloops Fire Centre as of late Saturday.

They are believed to be lightning starts from the thunderstorm activity passing through the region. Crews are responding to these fires with initial attack crews. All fires are very small.

Environment Canada ended its severe thunderstorm watch advisory for the Okanagan and most of southern B.C.just after 7:30 last night.

A quick check with Kim Weir, Fire Information Officer says as of Sat. there are 39 wildfires of note burning across B.C.

Nine are in the Kamloops Fire Centre, which includes the Okanagan, eight in the Cariboo Fire Centre, eight in the Southeast Fire Centre, five in the Prince George Fire Centre, nine in the Northwest Fire Centre and two in the Coastal Fire Centre.

1.5 Hectare Blaze

Crews battling wildfire near Cherryville

1h ago

Too Hot for Dogs

Don't leave pets alone in hot vehicles: RCMP

2h ago

Smoky Skies

Air quality warning issued for the Okanagan

4h ago

The Mabel Creek fire is still an estimated 1,861 hectares in size and is located 6.5 kilometres east of Mabel Lake.

The cause of the fire is under investigation but it is suspected to have been sparked by lightning.

An Area Restriction Order was put in place on Aug. 4 and remains in force until the earlier of 12 noon on Sept. 15, 2018 or until the order is rescinded. The order is for Crown land in the vicinity of Mabel Lake.

For the purpose of public and responder safety, the B.C. Wildfire Service has recommended the closure of the recreation site near fire K41791 on the northeast corner of Sugar Lake, along with the Kate Creek FSR access road.

They have also recommended a closure to all recreation traffic from Km 8 to Km 59 on the Mabel Lake FSR and the closure of all recreation sites along that road.

The closure does not apply to the residents in the Mable Lake Holdings community, nor other private residences along the Mabel Lake FSR. These closures are not due to fire threat but for road safety for fire crews and industry partners traveling to and from the fires. This takes effect immediately.

The Sugar Lake fire is one of the multiple fire starts in the drainages of Mabel and Sugar lakes from Hwy 6 in the south to Three Valley Gap in the north. Several of the fires, including Sugar Mountain wildfire, have grown past the initial attack stage;

Yesterday, there was active fire behaviour consuming pockets of fuel and smoke was visible from this wildfire.

Today, there is a thunderstorm warning for mid-day with expectant high winds, heavy rain, and possible hail. In the front of the predicted weather there is the expectation of erratic fire behaviour prior to the precipitation.

This fire is located in an area where there are heavy fuels and closed canopies that can be challenging if there are flare ups. Steep terrain is also an issue.

In the Harris Creek Fire yesterday about 16km southeast of Lumby, the fire behaviour on this fire was active, and on the western flank, helicopters and air tankers supported the ground crews to minimize the spread towards McAuley Creek Road.

Crews have completed the wide containment line around this wildfire. Establishing this containment line will provide an option to burn to the guard if deemed necessary and also limits the spread of fire including; west into a slide area and south into the Greystokes Protected Area (park).

Today, crews are working on mopping up the northwest and southwest flanks.

Yesterday the Harris Creek wildfire has jumped the McAuley Creek due west from the western flank. Air tankers and bucketing helicopters have aided with the suppression of this excursion. This excursion is approximately 2 hectares.

Increased wildfire activity in northwestern B-C prompted several helicopter rescues by the R-C-M-P as blazes grow closer to the city of Quesnel

Three wildfires of note are burning near Quesnel, all of which are zero per cent contained

Fire chief Sylvain Gauthier says 25-hundred residents on the city’s western side are under evacuation alert, and another two-thousand people outside of the city were told on Saturday to prepare to leave.

Gauthier says they’ve contracted a bus company from Prince George to help with a possible city-wide evacuation and are waiting on standby should the alert turn into an evacuation order.

On Saturday, the region issued an evacuation alert for 2,000 properties.

Emily Epp of the Cariboo Regional District says the wildfires in the area were predominately caused by lightning, and more thunderstorms are in the forecast for the region.

Gottfriedsen Mountain about 24 kilometres west of West Kelowna and about 8 km north of HWY 97
Size: 550.0 hectares (estimated)

Yesterday this fire’s rate of spread was slower due to moderately better conditions. Yesterday evening the wind shifted and the fire burned back on itself. Crews and heavy equipment have accomplished good progress on the west flank and they continue to build guard.

Evacuation Alert is in effect.

by Duane Grandbois