A modified response from B.C. Wildfire is keeping the Diamond Creek Fire in check.
As of Tuesday afternoon the Canadian portion of the fire was burning about 4,814 hectares of the back country in the area of Cathedral Provincial Park.
The U.S. portion of the fire is estimated at 38,445 hectares.
The fire, which originated in Washington State on July 23, crossed into Canada near Border Lake last Wednesday.
“Although we are not used to a modified response in the Kamloops Fire Centre it’s a very common practice in the B.C. Wildfire Service and the U.S. We’re working to steer the fire. It’s a well-thought and planned tactic to manage it. We don’t want people to think we aren’t doing anything,” Jody Lucius, fire officer for Kamloops Fire Centre, said.
At this point there have been no structures lost to the fire.
At least twice a day by air the B.C. Wildfire assesses the fire looking at speed, growth and direction it is headed.
The fire wasn’t considered fast moving as of Tuesday afternoon but was still categorized as aggressive.
“Part of why we aren’t doing a direct attack is because it is not safe for firefighters to be at the front of that fire,” she said.
Lucius said the fire is consuming a lot of pine and spruce beetle damage in the area.
“We’re wanting the fire to remove that fallen wood so it will help for future fire management and help regenerate some of the forest in that area,” she said.
On Tuesday firefighting efforts included two firefighters on the ground, four support personnel, one helicopter and nine pieces of heavy equipment.
“Because we are flying over that fire twice daily to monitor it if their were any substantial threats to the public the action would change. We do have plans in place based on trigger points and we will let people know,” she said.
