Category Archives: Forest Fires

Owen Rose said his “worst fears were realized” as he watched an out-of-control wildfire creep over a ridge and race toward Gun Lake in southern British Columbia, destroying about a dozen properties in its path. “It was shocking to see how fast it was coming down and then it hit a little cabin, or a boathouse, and it hit another little structure and the trees were candling around it before the smoke became really intense,” he said in an interview Tuesday. Flames from the lightning-caused Downton Lake wildfire, 110 kilometres northwest of the Resort Community of Whistler, have made steady progress through steep, wooded terrain at the western end of Gun Lake since the blaze was sparked on July 13. The fire suddenly flared on Monday. 

White trucks fill a parking lot down a dusty road next to the airport in Vanderhoof, B.C. It’s usually a sleepy place with just a few Cessnas flying in and out. But in recent months the parking lot has transformed into a home base for firefighters attached to the Vanderhoof-Fort St. James wildfire complex in Central B.C. This is where incoming international firefighters meet their beleaguered local counterparts, a welcome relief for those who have been on the front lines for weeks and sometimes months. Out of nearly 250 firefighters deployed to the wildfire complex right now, there are almost 100 international personnel alongside another 75 from the Canadian Armed Forces. The international teams, mostly from Mexico, the U.S., and Australia, bring an injection of energy and morale, and often a wealth of experience.

As wildfires spread south and closer to urban areas during what could be the most difficult month for wildfires, the provincial government will spare no cost and effort. Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma and Forest Minister Bruce Ralston delivered that message during the latest update on the wildfire and drought situation. …”As the wildfires begin to move further south, we will see more populations impacted as well, which means the increased likelihood of more evacuation alerts and orders,” Ma said. …Perhaps the most illustrative example of Ma’s prediction was the evacuation of parts of Osoyoos last weekend as the Eagle Bluff fire spread aggressively across the border with the United States into the Canada. That fires continues to grow, but the evacuation zone has shrunk as the fire moves away. “We will do what it takes and to spend whatever it takes to fight these wildfires and support communities through these evacuations,” she said.

The Yukon’s wildfire season has taken a turn for the worse in recent days, according to emergency officials, with 80 new fires sparked in the last week.  And with more lightning expected in the coming days, officials are bracing for still more — while preparing for the possibility that there’s no available firefighting help from outside the territory.  “This territory’s wildfire season has escalated dramatically in the recent days, due to lightning activity,” said Mike Fancie, Yukon’s fire information officer, at a briefing on Monday afternoon.  More than half of those new fires — 42 — are in the Dawson fire district, and 20 are in the Old Crow district.   No Yukon communities are currently at risk, officials said. There are still three evacuation alerts in place, for the Dublin Gulch area near Keno City, the Sixtymile area south of Top of the World Highway, and from kilometres 10 to 35 of the Silver Trail.

Some evacuation alerts affecting residents near a large Shuswap wildfire have been rescinded. As of Tuesday, Aug. 1, Lower East Adams Lake wildfire, 21 kilometres north of Chase, at grown to 2,527 hectares, reported the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) website. A previous 2,000-hectare estimate was downsized last week to 1,821. The fire did not show any significant growth towards populated areas to the south, and on July 31, the decision was made to move Structure Protection Units to Osoyoos and the Ross Moore Lake fire near Kamloops. Evacuation alerts affecting properties south of the Adams Lake blaze were amended due to the fire’s growth away from structures.

Although the Eagle Bluff Wildfire in Osoyoos has grown to more than 3,000 hectares, several evacuation orders and hundreds of alerts were rescinded on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 1. Around 500 evacuated residents got to go home on Monday, with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen lifting additional evacuation orders on Tuesday. There are a total of 191 properties currently on order, with 48 of those located within the town of Osoyoos. The RDOS also rescinded evacuation alerts for more than 1,600 properties. A total of 969 properties remain on evacuation alert, according to Erick Thompson from the RDOS’ Emergency Operations Centre. …Shaelee Stearns, information officer at BC Wildfire Service says there was “limited growth” overnight along the east flank of the fire, the side closest to the town of Osoyoos.

Hundreds of people are being allowed to return to their homes in Osoyoos in southern British Columbia after winds pushed back a wildfire that threatened the town over the weekend. The town endured a terrifying night on Saturday after the Eagle Bluff fire crossed the border with the United States and surged over hills overlooking Osoyoos. However, Environment Canada is forecasting winds of up to 20 kilometres an hour blowing northwest throughout the day — the right direction to push the flames away from town. …Erick Thompson of the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen said Monday afternoon that there are 192 properties now on evacuation order, down from 732. But over 2,600 homes are under evacuation alert, and their residents must be ready to leave at short notice. …BCWS Information Officer Shaelee Stearns said crews are keeping a close eye on the situation and that 50 firefighters and air support are working to keep the blaze at bay.

Additional coverage in Penticton Western News by Brennan Phillips: ‘It’s good to be home’ Evacuation orders lifted for 540 Osoyoos properties

…The Taylor Creek wildfire was discovered Wednesday evening on the lake’s east side, south of Momich Lakes Park. As of late Thursday morning, July 27, the fire was estimated to be .1 hectares in size. Lightning was the suspected cause.  Southeast of the Taylor Creek fire, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) maintained aerial efforts to control the 2,000-hectare Lower East Adams Lake fire.  Late Thursday afternoon, the Shuswap Emergency Program (SEP) issued an update on the fire and the work being done. Reduced fire behaviour was supporting firefighting efforts and, according to the BCWS, there was no expectation of fire behaviour increasing at the time.  “The reduction in fire behaviour is allowing BCWS to attack the fire more directly with air resources,” said SEP. “This means aircraft are better able to work on the front of the fire, helping to reduce its spread.”

Due to the extreme fire situation the province finds itself in, it has many people wondering why untrained people are not being told to go on the fire lines. I am a trained and certified forest firefighter and fought fires from 1985-1996, so I do understand and know what I am talking about.   Putting untrained people on the fire line is very dangerous and a hazard to anyone around them. I should know as when I fought, I usually was the only trained person on the crew aside from the crew boss. The rest were off the street, as that was common practice at the time.  The problem with that is you have a crew of untrained people that didn’t have proper clothing or footwear and then you give them a shovel, pulaski tool or a hose can and tell them to make a fire line. 

OSOYOOS, British Columbia — An evacuation order for the Canadian town of Osoyoos and its surrounding district in the province of British Columbia had been issued late Saturday night due to an out-of-control wildfire that has crossed the border from the U.S. state of Washington. The wildfire, called Eagle Bluff, is approximately 4 kilometres from Osoyoos and is currently estimated to be 885 hectares in size on the Canadian side of the border, according to the BC Wildfire Service. It was estimated to be around 2,000 hectares in size on the U.S. side by the BC Wildfire Service. Osoyoos has an area population of about 6,700. …The Eagle Bluff Wildfire burned across the Canada-U.S. border from the State of Washington. …The evacuation order covers the area north of the Canada-United States border to the intersection of Highway 97 and Highway 3, as well as west and north along Highway 3.

Additional coverage in:

• Global News: Hundreds forced from their homes in Osoyoos, BC
• Vancouver Sun: Osoyoos Mayor declares state of emergency

The smoke from the wildfire that burned four homes in Behchokǫ̀, Northwest Territories, has cleared enough that air tankers can start working in full force to slow the fire’s growth. Until now, terrible visibility has meant only small bits of the giant, 1,140-square-kilometre wildfire have been accessible by air. On Friday morning, fire information officer Mike Westwick said Thursday’s reprieve from fierce winds has allowed crews to get “into a roll.” They’re building a perimeter around Rae (one portion of Behchokǫ, formerly Rae-Edzo), turning some of their attention back to Highway 3 and starting to look at the east side of the fire burning 45 kilometres west of Yellowknife. …The fire is still burning very actively on both sides of Highway 3, where it’s gobbled up a 34-kilometre stretch of land along the road and, to the south, has burned to the shores of Great Slave Lake in places.

©Canadian Press/AP-Noah Berger

Crews fighting British Columbia’s largest-ever wildfire are hoping a “heavy, prolonged rain” in the forecast can help them turn the corner on the massive blaze. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the northeastern corner of the province where the Donnie Creek fire has burned close to 6,000 square kilometres of forest land. The weather statement says a low-pressure system over Alberta will interact with the east Rockies, leading to heavy rain in northeastern B.C., creating accumulation of up to 70 millimetres until Thursday morning. Prince George Fire Centre Information Officer Julia Caranci says the rain in the forecast is “very good news,” but they remain cautious because it may not fall evenly across the large area of the fire.

©BC Wildfire Service

Twenty-five properties have been ordered evacuated and more than 1,000 are on alert as wildfire crews battle a 300-hectare blaze near Invermere and Radium Hot Springs in B.C., popular destinations for Alberta tourists. The Horsethief Creek wildfire is burning on the side of Bruce Mountain, about seven kilometres north of Panorama Mountain Resort and 10 kilometres west of Invermere. The out-of-control blaze was first spotted Monday, growing to 70 hectares before swelling to 300 overnight. The exact size of the blaze as of Tuesday morning was unclear, with the B.C. Wildfire Service stating accurate tracking wasn’t possible due to smoke and challenging flying conditions. The fire is expected to grow. “This fire is suspected to be lightning-caused and aggressive fire behaviour is being driven by a cold front causing southwest winds that are gusting in the 45-km/h range,” the B.C. Wildfire Service said in an update on its website.

The Ross Moore Lake wildfire continues to expand and is now just 10 kilometres south of Kamloops city limits as a major rain and windstorm blows through the city on the evening of July 24. At about 9 p.m., strong winds and heavy rain arrived in parts of the city, with the winds strong enough to toss patio furniture around. Weather radar shows rain falling in the vicinity of the fire and expected to continue to at least midnight. The lightning-caused wildfire, which was discovered on the afternoon of July 21, is now estimated at 2,600 hectares in size as July 24, up from a previous estimate of 1,800 hectares. …Kamloops Fire Centre fire information officer Shaelee Stearns said the fire remains burning out of control. …Meanwhile, two wildfires burning on either side of Adams Lake remain classified as out of control.

Additional coverage in CTV News by Regan Hasegawa: Evacuation order due to fast-growing Kamloops wildfire expands by hundreds 

A new, highly-visible wildfire broke out just west of Invermere and Radium Hot Springs in southeastern B.C. on Monday. The Horsethief Creek fire is burning on the slope of Mt. Bruce, about seven kilometres north of the Panorama Mountain Resort and 10 kilometres west of Invermere. Started by lightning, it was discovered Monday and has grown to 70 hectares in size. “Aggressive fire behaviour is being driven by a cold front causing southwest winds that are gusting in the 45 kilometre an hour range,” the wildfire service said. …Late Monday, the Regional District of East Kootenay issued an evacuation order for 25 properties in the Horsethief Creek and Bear Mountain area due to the Horsethief Creek fire in the Columbia Valley. …As of Monday, 677 properties remained under evacuation alert and 51 others remained under evacuation order from the St. Mary’s River fire near Cranbrook. …Further east, crews also battled the Lladnar Creek wildfire, just west of Sparwood.

A wildfire burning near the B.C. community of Cranbrook in the St. Mary’s River is an estimated 3,342 hectares, up from 2,600 hectares on Friday. Officials said the fire is continuing to grow. “With the increased fire activity on the Northeast corner, the size is expected to change again the next time a track can be taken,” BC Wildfire staff said in an update. “Fire has (been) spotted across the Kootenay River onto the Bummers Flats on the East side of the river. Crews are working in the area to contain the spot with assistance from aviation resources when visibility permits.” …The St. Mary’s River fire was discovered Monday and is burning about 10 kilometres northeast of the East Kootenay community, primarily on ʔaq’am reserve land. At least seven homes on the reserve have been destroyed. Nearly 70 homes are on evacuation order, while another 135 are on evacuation alert.

CRANBROOK, BC — The forest and brush around the international airport at Cranbrook, B.C., has been scorched in an all-out effort to protect the vital transportation link from an encroaching wildfire, airport manager Tristen Chernove said Friday. Wildfire crews were at the Canadian Rockies International Airport in southeastern B.C. overnight Friday monitoring the fires that were purposely lit as a guard from the out-of-control St. Mary’s River fire, he said. …He said flights were arriving and departing Friday, but heavy smoke has resulted in some cancellations. The BC Wildfire Service recommended Thursday that City of Cranbrook properties and leased areas at the airport be placed under an evacuation alert. The Regional District of East Kootenay issued an evacuation alert for 71 dwellings. Earlier this week, several homes at the Cranbrook area’s Aq’am First Nation were destroyed by the same wildfire.

An out-of-control wildfire near Kamloops has triggered evacuation orders and alerts impacting hundreds of properties. On Sunday, the Ross Moore Lake wildfire was estimated at 1,800 hectares and was continuing to burn out of control. It is located roughly 24 kilometres south of Kamloops and highly visible from the city as well as the highway, according to the BC Wildfire Service. The Thompson –Nicola Regional District ordered 49 properties to evacuate Saturday and placed another 327 on alert. …The fire was discovered Friday but grew significantly Saturday due to hot, dry and windy conditions, the BCWS said in a social media post. It is suspected to be lightning caused.

©Bob Bennison

Hundreds of wildfires continue to burn in B.C, with some of the most concerning blazes now in the southern half of the province, as more international resources pour in to help with the fight.  The province is in the midst of a wildfire season that is already the worst on record when it comes to area burned, with 14,800 square kilometres charred. The B.C. Wildfire Service says some rain is expected to help firefighters in northern B.C., where most of B.C.’s fires of note — those that pose a threat to public safety or are publicly visible — are burning. However, two fires of note are burning close to communities in the Interior. One of them, the Ross Moore Lake fire south of Kamloops, B.C., more than doubled in size overnight — going from seven square kilometres to 18 square kilometres. …Just northeast of Cranbrook, more than 660 properties are on evacuation alert and 51 homes have been ordered to evacuate…

Environment Canada has issued a Special Air Quality Statement due to wildfire smoke causing poor air quality and reduced visibility. According to the Manitoba Government website, there are 47 active forest fires in Manitoba and one of them is burning out of control. That one is located north of Grand Rapids. It was detected 23 days ago, on June 29, covering 18,562 hectares. Most of the forest fires, 35, are located in northern Manitoba, while eight are burning in the western region and four are located in eastern Manitoba.