Lava Canyon Fire Nearly Fully Contained

Friday, September 11, 2009 12:07 PM

Alexis Creek, B.C. - The Lava Canyon suppression efforts have now contained 95% of the province’s largest active wildfire. The fire is held at approximately 63,533 hectares or 635 square kilometres in size.

Resources for the Lava Canyon Fire consist of 262 firefighters, 10 helicopters, 19 pieces of heavy equipment, and 82 support staff.

Firefighters are repositioned daily to ensure that sufficient resources are on hand to defend the fire’s established boundaries. Currently, infrared scanning is detecting hotspots and crews are deployed to these areas of concern.

Fire weather specialists forecast warm and dry conditions over the weekend, with temperatures reaching the mid 20’s degrees Celsius. It is not anticipated that the winds will be a factor in the fire behaviour of the Lava Canyon Fire. No significant amounts of precipitation are forecasted for the next seven to ten days.

The Newton-Whitewater Road (7000 Road) continues to be closed to traffic approximately one kilometre south of the Siwash Bridge. This closure is necessary because of fire suppression operations along this road. The public is asked to refrain from entering this area.

As for the Kelly Creek fire near Clinton, the BC Forest Service used helicopter landing pads established high up on the steep and difficult northwest flank of the Kelly Creek fire to fly in specialized fire crews and equipment. The fire crews are establishing fuel free zones, hand built fireguards and hose lays from large portable bladders to contain the northward spread of the Kelly Creek fire.

In other more quiet areas of the fire, heavy equipment has begun rehabilitation of fireguards and other fire control disturbed areas which are no longer necessary. The weather today on the Kelly Creek fire will be warm and dry with light winds from the southwest. Overall conditions are favourable for continued success with containment and mop up operations.

The Kelly Creek fire area is 50% contained and 19,525 hectares in area with 124 firefighters, five helicopters and 19 heavy equipment units engaged in fire control operations today. The area surrounding the Kelly Creek wildfire will remain closed to public access. This Restricted Area Order is in place to ensure fire personnel and public safety.

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