UPDATE (10 p.m.):
The fire located 3 km south of Lang Lake fire increased to 440 hectares this evening. The one just north of Lang Lake increased to 345 hectares.
As a result, the CRD has issued an evacuation order for the Lang Lake/Murphy Lake area. The evacuation includes parts of Hawkins Lake and Eagle Creek that were previously on alert.
RELATED: Evacuation orders issued for Tatelkuz Lake and Lang Lake and Murphy Lake area
Evac order for 66 properties in the Lang Lake/Murphy Lake area. Part of the Hawkins Lake/Eagle Creek evac alert, issued today at 12:30 p.m., is now in the order. Register for ESS at Peter Skeene Ogden. Details: https://t.co/oJjqJiDudP pic.twitter.com/rqr0UYxVhp
— CRD (@CaribooRD) August 11, 2018
UPDATE (7 p.m.):
The Wild Goose Lake has increased to 3,300 hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service map.
The map also shows that the fire east of Young Lake has increased to 135 hectares.
UPDATE (6 p.m.):
There are currently Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre has four evacuation alerts and two evacuation orders in effect as of Friday, Aug. 10.
An overview of the current @CaribooRD evacuation alerts and order (as of 5pm on Aug. 10) and a #BCwildfire summary from the Cariboo Fire Centre (as of noon on Aug. 10): https://t.co/3duIqnXhDn pic.twitter.com/YmkLvKCqw3
— CRD (@CaribooRD) August 11, 2018
The TNRD has also issued an evacuation alert for the Wild Goose Lake area.
Another #EVACUATION ALERT has been issued due to a #BCWildfire burning in the vicinity of Wild Goose Lakes. The alert for the area includes properties north and east of Clink Lake, as shown on the attached map.
More information is available on our website https://t.co/rm01vMdpwE pic.twitter.com/cBIjKHgVfK
— TNRD (@TNRD) August 10, 2018
Fire information officer Jessica Mack confirmed Friday evening that the information showing on BC Wildfire Services’ Wildfire-of-Note page has been updated with the most current information.
Here is the most up-to-date information, according to that page:
The Blackwater River fire, east of Blackwater River in the Nazko area, has increased to an estimated 2,000 hectares. Sixteen firefighters, one helicopter and six pieces of heavy equipment are on site and are continuing to work towards building a fireguard.
The Horsefly Lake fire, located north of Horsefly Lake and west of Haggens Point Road, remains at 526 hectares in size. Ground crews continue to reinforce guards and establish a wet-line perimeter, according to BC Wildfire Service. The fire is 90 per cent contained and 2 firefighters, 12 pieces of heavy equipment and three helicopters are on site. Airtankers are available if necessary.
The Houseman Road fire, 14 km east of 100 Mile House and south-west of Buffalo Lake, is estimated at 19.5 hectares in size. The fire is 10 per cent contained. Twenty firefighters and four pieces of heavy equipment continue to work to establish a guard in order to contain it in its entirety.
The evacuation order remains in effect for 57 properties in the Houseman Road area. Evacuees are being directed to the Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School, at at 200 7 St, in 100 Mile House.
RELATED: UPDATE: Evacuation reception centre moves to Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School, in 100 Mile House
The Lang Lake fire, 5 km south-east of Lang Lake and 10 km north of Canim Lake remains at 200 hectares. A sole fire officer is on site because of safety concerns and difficult terrain. The fire is being assessed and heavy equipment continues to work towards establishing containment lines.
An evacuation alert remains for 396 properties in the Hawkins Lake and Eagle Creek areas.
RELATED: 396 properties in Hawkins Lake and Eagle Creek area on evacuation alert
The fire north-west of Mayfield Lake is approximately 100 hectares in size. Airtankers attended to this fire today and will continue supporting the 21 firefighters, two helicopters and three pieces of heavy equipment are on site. The fire is 20 per cent contained and crews will continue building a guard around the perimeter.
181 properties from Mayfield Lake north to Buckley Drive and west to the Fraser River, including Springhouse, are under an evacuation alert.
An Evacuation Alert has been issued for 181 properties for an area from Mayfield Lake north to Buckley Drive and west to the Fraser River, including Springhouse, due to a #wildfire southwest of Springhouse (C22371). Details: https://t.co/zS0m7W9Hq3 pic.twitter.com/9MZZbCGjPv
— CRD (@CaribooRD) August 10, 2018
The Narcosli Creek fire, approximately 31 km south-west of Quesnel has increased to 3,100 hectares in size. Thirty firefighters, two helicopters and six pieces of heavy equipment are on site, continuing to establish control lines to prevent further growth.
The CRD issued an evacuation alert for the Narcosli Creek area north to West Quesnel.
The @CaribooRD and @Quesnel have issued an evacuation alert for the Narcosli Creek area north to West Quesnel, with all City properties on alert west of the Fraser River. Details: https://t.co/DqVrq78eox pic.twitter.com/zzKdl7cqrk
— CRD (@CaribooRD) August 10, 2018
The Shag Creek fire remains at 7,000 hectares in size. BC Wildfire Service personnell continue to monitor this fire after pulling crews off site for safety reasons. The fire progressed in a north easterly direction today.
An evacuation order remains in effect for 93 properties between the north western boundary of the CRD to the southern edge of Tsacha Lake.
Evacuation order issued for 93 properties between the north western boundary of the CRD to the southern edge of Tsacha Lake. This includes the 17 properties in the Aug. 7 Shag Creek evacuation alert. Evacuation route and ESS details: https://t.co/8tB3ojTZbg pic.twitter.com/jNNFiTmWd3
— CRD (@CaribooRD) August 8, 2018
The Wild Goose Lake fire remains at 2,500 hectares in size. Fifty-four firefighters, one helicopter and four pieces of heavy equipment are on site, working on establishing a fire guard. Additional resources will arrive tomorrow. This fire is 30 per cent contained.
The TNRD has issued an evacuation alert for the area surrounding Wild Goose Lake, including properties north and east of Clink Lake.
UPDATE (4:45 p.m.): The Houseman Road fire, south-west of Buffalo Lake, is now estimated to be 19.5 hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service map.
The map also shows the fire south east of 70 Mile has increased to 524 hectares and the fire north of Mahood has increased to 360 hectares.
The Wild Goose Lake fire, which is still showing at 2,500 hectares, is moving in a northeast direction. In an email response, fire information officer Jessica Mack said, “As of early this afternoon, the fire is demonstrating aggressive fire behaviour.”
She said crews are on the south flank, working to implement a fuel free guard. Heavy equipment will work overnight and more resources are on the way.
“All of the Wildfire of Note pages have been updated with the most updated information that we have.
UPDATE (1:30 p.m.): The Wild Goose Lake fire is now estimated to be 2,500 hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service map.
ORIGINAL STORY: There are 87 active wildfires and seven wildfires-of-note in the Cariboo Fire Centre as of Friday, Aug. 10.
Fire information officer Robyn Clark said in an email update that 11 new fires have been discovered since Thursday, Aug. 9. Six of these were in the 100 Mile House area, one in the horsefly area, one in Quesnel and three in the Williams Lake area.
The Horsefly Lake, Shag Creek, Wild Goose Lake, Narcosli Creek, Lang Lake and Houseman Road fires are listed as fires-of-note.
The Horsefly Lake fire, located north of Horsefly Lake and west of Haggens Point Road, is estimated at 526 hectares in size. Ground crews continue to reinforce guards and establish a wet-line perimeter, according to BC Wildfire Service. The fire is 90 per cent contained and 28 firefighters, 12 pieces of heavy equipment and three helicopters are on site.
The Shag Creek fire, located west of Shag Creek, is estimated at 7,000 hectares. Crews have been pulled off of this fire for their own safety and because of its current and expected behaviour. This fire will be continually monitored.
Properties in the Shag Creek area are under an evacuation order from the Cariboo Regional District.
The Cariboo Regional District has issued an evacuation alert for properties in the Shag Creek area. More info: https://t.co/gbj2Hz8JKl pic.twitter.com/hE91Lixwp5
— CRD (@CaribooRD) August 8, 2018
The Wild Goose Lake fire, estimated at 1,400 hectares, is 30 per cent contained. Ground crews worked on the eastern flank on Thursday and will continually work at establishing fire guard to contain the fire in its entirety.
Fifty-four firefighters, one helicopter and four pieces of heavy equipment are on site.
The Blackwater River fire, east of Blackwater River int he Nazko area, is estimated at 1,184 hectares. Sixteen personnel, one helicopter and six pieces of heavy equipment are on site and are working on building a fireguard.
The Narcosli Creek fire, north of Tzenzaicut Lake and west of Kersley, is estimated at 1,200 hectares. Thirty firefighters, two helicopters and six pieces of equipment are on site, working on establishing control lines.
The Lang Lake fire, east of the north end of Lang Lake, is estimated at 200 hectares. One firefighter is on site to assess the situation and four pieces of heavy equipment are working to establish containment lines. BC Wildfire Service will deploy more resources as they become available.
The Houseman Road fire, south-west of Buffalo Lake, is estimated at 12 hectares and is now 10 per cent contained. Twenty firefighters and four pieces of heavy equipment are on site, working to establish a guard to contain the fire in its entirety.
The Cariboo Regional District issued an evacuation order for 57 properties in the Houseman Road area on Thursday, Aug. 9.
RELATED: UPDATE: Evacuation reception centre moves to Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School, in 100 Mile House
Six fires were called out on Thursday, Aug. 9 – one in the Quesnel area, one in the Horsefly area, three in the 100 Mile House area and one in the Chilcoltin area.
The largest active fire in the 100 Mile fire zone is estimated at 80 hectares and is north of Mahood Lake.
The largest active fire in the Williams Lake region is 10 km southwest of Springhouse and is estimated at 45 hectares.
All of the Cariboo Fire Centre is under a campfire ban as half of its fire danger rating is “high,” while the other half is “extreme,” said BC Wildfire Service, especially in the Chilcotin Fire Zone.
Anybody found in violation of the ban can be ticketed up to $1,150, required to pay up to $10,000 for an administrative penalty, and could face a $100,000 fine or one year of jail time if convicted in court.
If a fire causes or contributes to a wildfire, the responsible party can be ordered to pay all costs for firefighting.
No rain or lightning is expected today and none happened yesterday, either.
BC Wildfire Service included a summary of other active fires, by zone, in its update.
The following information is accurate as of first thing Friday morning:
Wildfires of Note
There are currently seven Wildfires of Note within the Cariboo Fire Centre. Please check here for future updates on these fires.
Horsefly Lake (C31678), Cariboo Fire Centre
Location: North of Horsefly Lake and west of Haggens Point Road
Status: 526 hectares mapped, 90% contained
Cause: Lightning-caused
Resources: 28 firefighters, 12 pieces of heavy equipment and 3 helicopters.
Fire Camp in place: None
Objectives: Ground crews are continuing to reinforce guards and establishing a wet line perimeter.
Evacuations: No Evacuation Alert for this wildfire.
Other: N/A
Shag Creek (C11837), Cariboo Fire Centre
Location: West of Shag Creek
Status: 7000 hectares estimated, 0% contained
Cause: Lightning-caused
Resources: None
Fire Camp in place: None
Objectives: Given current and expected fire behavior, crews have been pulled off this fire for safety reasons. BC Wildfire Service is continuing to monitor this fire.
Evacuations: An Evacuation Order has been implemented by the Cariboo Regional District for properties in the Shag Creek area. For more information, please visit the Cariboo Regional District Website: www.cariboord.bc.ca
Other: N/A
Wild Goose Lake (C41745), Cariboo Fire Centre
Location: Wild Goose Lake
Status: 1400 hectares mapped, 30% contained
Cause: Lightning-caused
Resources: There are 54 firefighters, one helicopter, and four pieces of heavy equipment on site.
Fire Camp in place: None
Objectives: Ground crews worked on the eastern flank yesterday and will continue working to establish fire guard to achieve full containment.
Evacuations: None
Blackwater River (C12328), Cariboo Fire Centre
Location: East of Blackwater River in the Nazko area
Status: 1184 hectares mapped, 0% contained
Cause: Lightning-caused
Resources: There are 16 personnel, one helicopter, and six pieces of heavy equipment on site.
Fire Camp in place: None
Objectives: Crews and equipment will continue building fireguard.
Evacuations: None
Other: N/A
Narcosli Creek (C12302), Cariboo Fire Centre
Location: North of Tzenzaicut Lake, west of Kersley
Status: 1200 hectares estimated, 0% contained
Cause: Lightning-caused
Resources: There are 30 firefighters, two helicopters and six pieces of heavy equipment on site.
Fire Camp in place: None
Objectives: Ground crews will continue establishing control lines.
Evacuations: None
Other: N/A
Lang Lake (C42138), Cariboo Fire Centre
Location: East of the north end of Lang lake
Status: 200 hectares estimated, 0% contained
Cause: Lightning-caused
Resources: One firefighter and four pieces of heavy equipment are on site.
Fire Camp in place: None
Objectives: One firefighter is on site assessing the situation and equipment is working to establish containment lines. More resources will be deployed as they become available.
Evacuations: None
Other: N/A
Houseman Road (C42363), Cariboo Fire Centre
Location: Southwest of Buffalo Lake
Status: 12 hectares estimated, 10% contained
Cause: Lightning-caused
Resources: There are 20 firefighters and four pieces of heavy equipment on site.
Fire Camp in place: None
Objectives: Ground crews are working to establish guard in order to gain full containment.
Evacuations: An Evacuation Order has been implemented by the Cariboo Regional District for properties in the Houseman Road area. For more information, please visit the Cariboo Regional District Website: www.cariboord.bc.ca
Other: N/A
Quesnel zone
There are 19 wildfires burning in this zone, three were discovered yesterday afternoon.
C11853 –20 ha– Wells/Barkerville –Under Control –Six firefighters on site.
C11819 –60 ha –Swift River–Being Held –35 firefighters on site.
C11837 –700ha –Shag Creek—see Wildfire of Note above.
C12302 –1200 ha– Narcosli Creek –see Wildfire of Note above.
C12230 –40 ha– West of Pantage Lake/South of Big Valley Creek. This fire experienced aggressive fire behaviour yesterday. No structures or communities are threatened at this time.
C12328 –1184 ha— East of Blackwater River —See Wildfires of Note above.
C12338—0.1 ha– Chevans Creek –Personnel is on site to assess the fire. No communities or structures are threatened at this time.
C12365 –60 ha –China Bluff – south of Kluskoil Lake park –Currently being assessed and is in close proximity to C12328.
Williams Lake Zone
There are nine fires burning, all of these are Under Control.
C21673 –199 ha –Junction Sheep Range Provincial Park –Under Control – being monitored
C21875 –15 ha –Tom Hutch Creek –Under Control –being monitored
C22283 –9.5 ha –Stum Lake – 22 firefighters on site –Under Control
C22371 – 45 ha – 10 kilometres southwest of Springhouse – There are 21 firefighters on site
Horsefly zone
There are 22 active fires. All fires have been assessed and actioned in priority sequence.
C31689 –420 ha –Quartz Mountain –Being monitored
C31691 –80 ha –east arm Quesnel Lake –Being monitored
C31688 –12 ha –Heningram FSR—Crew is on site
C31678 – 526ha – Horsefly Lake –east of Viewland Mountain – See Wildfire of Note above.
C31606 –16 ha –north of Buxton Creek –15 firefighters on site—Under Control
C31692 –50 ha—east of Warttig Lake –Being monitored
C32320 –6 ha –Tisdal Lake –This fire was discovered yesterday and crews are actioning the less active flank at this time.
C32372 – South of Tasse Lake – This fire was discovered yesterday and is estimated at 0.3 hectares
100 Mile zone
There are 32 active fires. All fires have been assessed and actioned in priority sequence.
C41745 –1400 ha –Wild Goose Lake –See Wildfire of Note above.
C42133 –10 ha –west of Lang Lake –A crew is onsite –Being Held
C42138 –200 ha –south of Lang Lake –see Wildfires of Note above.
C42324 –400 ha –70 Mile—One helicopter and 29 personnel are on site. No communities or structures are threatened at this time.
C42331 –30 ha –Young Lake—Updated size due to accurate mapping.
C42358 – 80 ha – Southwest of Clearwater Lake, north of Mahood Lake – This fire is being monitored.
C42363 – 12 ha – Houseman Road –see Wildfires of Note above.
Chilcotin zone
The Chilcotin Fire Zone currently has three active wildfires.
C51925 –120 ha –Chantslar Lake –43 personnel on site –Under Control
C51752 –55 ha – south of Itcha Ilgatchuz Park –Crews are making excellent progress, there are 18 personnel onsite –Being Held
beth.audet@100milefreepress.net
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