Cariboo Fire Centre Faces New Fires

Sunday, August 02, 2009 01:17 PM

WILLIAMS LAKE- The Cariboo Fire Centre continues to respond to multiple lightning caused fires.

Lightning was the cause of 32 new fires discovered yesterday afternoon, 17 of which were in the Williams Lake Basin. These fires ranged from spot size to 100 hectares. The BC Forest Service responded with 65 initial attack fire fighters, 23 helicopters, and air tanker action when necessary.

The Fire Centre continues to attack multiple fires within the Cariboo; the largest is a fire in the Heckman Pass area, estimated to be 650 hectares. Favourable weather kept the fire from growing significantly during the night. This aided the resources on site, which include twenty three fire fighters, seven pieces of heavy equipment, and two helicopters, in their fire suppression efforts. This fire has crossed highway 20 and road closures will be in place until further notice. For more information, please contact www.drivebc.ca.

The following fires of note continue to burn within the Cariboo fire Centre. None of these fires are currently threatening any communities.

· Alexis Creek: this fire is estimated at 65 hectares and is now 100 percent contained

· Choelquoit Lake: estimated at 60 hectares, the fire is now 90 percent contained, 22 fire fighters will continue to reinforce guards and work to achieve 100 percent containment

· Sugarloaf: fire suppression personnel have achieved 70 percent containment on this fire, it is currently estimated at 105 hectares

Due to the high level of natural fire activity as a result of lightning it is crucial that the public takes every necessary precaution to avoid causing a forest fire. The Cariboo Fire centre asks the public to please ensure cigarettes are properly extinguished, be careful with any sources of heat in forested or grassy areas and remember that there are burning restrictions throughout the fire centre region

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