Golden Fire Rescue responded to a report of a fire near LaFontaine Road late in the evening on June 25.
Residents in Golden posted that the blaze could be seen from the Blaeberry around 11:30 p.m., and initial witnesses say the fire was burning from a slash pile on property that was cleared across from the water tower.
In the morning on June 26, residents could still see smoke from in town.
Golden Fire Rescue worked through the night to contain the fire.
UPDATE:
The fire near LaFontaine Road continues to burn.
The fire ignited a slash pile near dozens of homes in the area, and Golden Fire Rescue deputy Chief Mike Pecora says it was likely intentionally lit.
“It definitely wasn’t the flick of a cigarette. That thing was perfectly burning around the perimetre,” Pecora said. “The slash pile, somebody had intentionally lit, which at this time of year is completely illegal.”
BC Wildfire Service is now on scene continuing to fight the claze. Pecora says it could be days before the fire is completely extinguished.
“To put the slash pile into perspective, it is probably the size of [Save-On],” Pecora said. “When I first arrived on scene, I would say the flames were probably several hundred feet in the air. Surrounding trees were igniting, RCMP was there, they went in and evacuated a lady that was in the house adjacent to the property.”
Golden Fire Rescue responded to the scene around 11:30 p.m. on June 25 with two trucks. Crews began to immediately douse a 30-foot perimetre around the fire, and hosed the trees in the surrounding area.
After getting the fire under control, RCMP and Golden Fire Rescue continued to monitor the fire throughout the night, and sent out the wildland fire truck to douse the fire again.
More updates will be posted as they become available.
