The Cariboo Fire Centre (CFC) has had a series of updates on the Fire Crews battling fires across the region.
Fire Information Officer, Donna MacPherson, says currently, there are five fires that have most of the Centre’s resources deployed to. One remains ‘Out of Control’, but the others are all Under Control.
“The Hotnarko Lake Fire is the only one still ‘Out of Control’, and it’s 60.2 hectares in size,” says MacPherson. “We’ve got 37 firefighters, four helicopters supporting the ground crews, and heavy equipment on that fire. The Fire did grow overnight, but it grew west and away from communities.”
That Fire is located 14 kilometres south of Highway 20, the CFC says the highway has not been impacted.
The two other largest fires in the region. The first is the Snaking River Fire, located 8.5 kilometres from Nazko First Nation, and 65 kilometres west of Quesnel. That fire is 879.8 hectares in size, and is currently listed as ‘Under Control’.
CFC says there are 20 firefighters currently battling that fire, and ground crews have started demobilizing gear and heavy equipment and are able to directly attack the fire line.
The second Emerald Lake Fire, located approximately 40 kilometres west of 100 Mile House. It’s 245.7 hectares in size and has 80 firefighters with helicopter and heavy equipment support responding to it. Fire Crews are also able to work actively along the edges of the fire line and water down hot spots.
There is limited road access via Enterprise Road. CFC has opened the road to single-lane alternating traffic.
As of today, the Emerald Lake Fire is listed as ‘Under Control’, as well.
MacPherson says that this year, the CFCs and BC Wildfire Service’s (BCWS) initial attacks and responses have been successful, even compared to last year. Many of the fires have been able to put out and changed from Out of Control to Being Held or Under Control on the same day, or the next.
“Weather is also a strong reason we have seen a lot of success,” MacPherson says. “The grasses that are normally golden, dry, and crinkly this time of year they’re still green and still pliable. The trees in the areas have also been well hydrated. This has slowed a lot of the fires down, and Crews have been able to get on and have the fires Under Control quickly.”
MacPherson adds that the CFC is expecting additional help from the weather over this weekend with cooler temperatures and expected precipitation across the Cariboo. However, she cautions that the CFC expects the rainfall not to fall evenly across the Fire Centre’s area.
While there is no campfire ban across the region, the CFC does ask people to be more cautious of having one. Do not have anything larger than half a metre in size, and to report any signs of smoke in densely wooded areas.
The CFC has been battling 141 fires since April 1, and more than 60 since July 28. BCWS reports that 85 of the fires were caused by lightning strikes, 53 were caused by humans, and three are so far undetermined.
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