Update: South Cariboo’s volunteer fire departments are about to get some help.
Stephanie Masun, manager of emergency programs and disaster resilience at Cariboo Regional District, said Saturday that more firefighters will be coming to 100 Mile House to support local volunteer fire departments. It wasn’t immediately known where the resources will come from.
“At this time, we are looking to bring in approximately 20 pieces of equipment and up to 100 personnel,” Masun said.
Some 36 wildfires are burning in the South Cariboo as of Friday, including two “fires of note” – a 200-hectare blaze southeast of Deka Lake and a one ha fire at the northwest tip of Canim Lake.
Firefighters and heavy equipment worked throughout the night to continue building a machine guard on the southeast corner of the Deka wildfire, which forced the evacuation of more than 700 people Thursday. There was no growth on that fire overnight, according to BCWS.
READ MORE: BC Wildfire Service not requesting public aid on Wilcox Fire
Meanwhile, a heavy-lift helicopter that can carry up to 1,660 gallons of water, was on-site at the northwest tip of Canim Lake Saturday to suppress a one-hectare fire. The Cariboo Regional District and Canim Lake Band issued a joint alert for the Canim Lake area, including the Canim Lake Band, Friday night.
“At this time, the most effective way to suppress this wildfire is by using aerial support,” BCWS said in its update.
Three fires – a six-ha blaze in Lone Butte, a 15-ha fire north of Little Green Lake Road and a 0.6-ha fire east of Ryall Road – were classified as “being held” Saturday morning. Three others are in the “under control status,” the BC Wildfire Service said in an update Saturday. Evacuation orders remains in place for Judson Road, although that fire is classified as under control, while alert has also been issued for Sulphurous Lake.
The ESS reception/registration is open and taking info from people on alert or order. This can be done in person or by phone 587-645-4842
ESS self-registration option: ess.gov.bc.ca for anyone on alert or order
We are encouraging people to self-register with emergency notification system if possible
https://www.cariboord.ca/en/emergency-and-protective-services/emergency-notification-system.aspx
The BC Wildfire Service reminds people that it is prohibited to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone near or over a wildfire.
“This is illegal and endangers our personnel, and we cannot operate aircraft when UAVs or drones fly through restricted airspace,” BCWS said in an update.
More to come.
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Lightning over Green Lake (Robyn Cowan photo - submitted)
Smoky highways along the Highway 24 corridor. (Angie Mindus photo - Black Press Media)
Smoky highways along the Highway 24 corridor. (Angie Mindus photo - Black Press Media)
Lightning over Green Lake (Robyn Cowan photo - submitted)
A bomber tackles a 200-hectare fire near Deka Lake. (Katy Mayrs photo - submitted).
