A downed powerline caused a fire on Little Shuswap Indian Band land along Sunnybrae Canoe Point Road early this afternoon, but it was brought under control as of 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Larry Osachoff, forest protection technician with the Wildfire Management Branch, says the fire began at just after 11 a.m. Tuesday morning when a tree fell across the line, causing the blaze. It was first responded to by the Tappen Sunnybrae Fire Department. They, in turn, called in the provincial Wildfire Management Branch for assistance.
The Shuswap Emergency Program reported there were no residents or structures in immediate danger. Three fire departments were in attendance, as well as the Wildfire Management Initial Attack crew, who were fighting the fire along the north side with aerial support. They remain on scene to ensure all hot spots have been put out.
“We’ve sent our a helicopter with two crews and some ground personnel from the (RapAttack) base here in Salmon Arm,” says Osachoff. “There is also a water tender on site, as well as BC Hydro.”
At 1 p.m. the fire was approximately one hectare in size and was located along Sunnybrae Canoe Point Road two kilometers from the junction with the Trans-Canada Highway.
“We’ve had some really good success knocking it down with the helicopter, and I was just talking to them out in the field and it looks like they’ve got a good handle on it at this point. It’s looking like we’re moving into mop-up stage,” adds Osachoff.
Osachoff is not aware of any formal evacuation notices being issued, although he notes there are some residences nearby.
Sunnybrae-Canoe Point Road is open to single lane traffic with the assistance of pilot cars as crews continue to work. Residents urgently requiring access or egress from the area can travel through an alternative route along Mobley Rd. and Ford Rd. which has been temporarily opened.
