The fire burning by Atna Lake, just west of Morice Lake, approximately 84 kms. from Houston caused by lightening is still a burning.
Firefighters have created a contingency line, or a place to work from if the fire should spread east.
All of the fire’s growth has been within the Morice Lake Provincial Park, the majority of the fire’s growth has been up towards steep rocky bluffs.
The fire management plan for the park details that fire should be allowed to burn and not be suppressed. This fire management technique is “modified response”, which means that officials take into account that fire is a natural part of the forest life-cycle.
Fire returns nutrients to the soil and results in new growth as well as creating preferred habitat for many wildlife. Fire also has cleansing properties by removing the build up of fuels, which creates a natural firebreak for future fires.
The fire East of the Dease River near Boya Lake Park is approximately 3500 hectares and is still considered active and firefighters have successfully contained the fire. The northeast flank of the fire is currently un-contained and is being monitored. This area is being patrolled by air to assess the fire against established trigger points. This fire was also caused by lightening.
Lindsay Carnes, fire information officer, Northwest Fire Centre said, “Both of the two large fires in our area have received some precipitation in the past week, but are not considered out.”
As far as the fires in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, according to Carnes the fires burning previously, two were put out and four are still burning within modified response, meaning they are allowed to burn within the parameters, but they may bring in some suppression to contain them. Three of the four fires are very small, the largest of the four is two hectares. All are being monitored and Carnes said for this time of the year they will probably burns themselves out given the recent precipitation.
