Cooler Temperatures and Showers Help Fire Fighters

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 10:13 AM

Prince George, B.C.- There has been no change in the Tascha Lake fire north of Anahim Lake. The fire is estimated to be 12,400 hectares in size and is being battled by eleven firefighters and 2 helicopters.

While campfire restrictions have been lifted in the northwest portion of the province, the campfire ban remains in effect throughout the Prince George Fire Centre.

The Binta Lake fire, ( 45 km se of Burns Lake) is now 40,000 hectares and is 35% contained. Cool, showery weather is forecast for the coming days. While this will help slow fire activity, at least 40mm of rain is needed to substantially reduce the risk.

( at right, thick smoke rolls over Francois Lake from the Binta Lake fire last week, photo courtesy Opinion250 reader)

Crews are working both day and night shift on this fire. Overnight crews are working to construct guards and controlled burns on the eastern flanks.

Thanks to cooler temperatures and higher humidity the rate of spread of the fire is predicted to be limited today.

The Bulkley-Nechako Regional District issued an evacuation order for the area around Binta Lake and an evacuation alert for the surrounding area. Please see http://www.rdbn.bc.ca/ or call 250-692-3195 or 250-692-9411 for more information.

In the Cariboo Fire District, the cooler weather has offered some assistance to firefighters.

Pelican Lake Complex:

Overnight precipitation will help firefighters at fire 250 and 299 today. This morning about 10 mm of rain was found at the north end of the fire and 6mm at the Nazko Camp. Unsettled weather is expected for the next few days which should keep fire behaviour to a minimum. Safety will be a priority for crews today with slippery conditions expected.

Firefighters will continue building and completing guards. Crews will be patrolling and mopping up hot spots. SPU will continue to monitor areas. The 205 fire is 43,112 hectares in size and 20 % contained, 299 fire is 2,400 hectares in size and 10 % contained. The large change in size is a result of having the first opportunity to accurately map the fire in good visibility following a wind event.

An Evacuation Alert remains in place. There is an area road restriction order in place from Pelican Lake to Pantage Lake in effect until September 03, 2010 or until lifted. Residents living in the area restriction order have received an entry permit. Security checkpoints have been established. A section of Nazko Rd./Batnuni Rd. is restricted

to personnel only, affected residents please be advised to use alternate routes.

Meldrum Complex:

Multiple fires are burning within this area. Combined, they cover over 47,000 hectares, or 470 square kilometres.
NW of Twan Creek(C20263)
Size: 7437 hectares; 10% contained
Guards have been constructed from a fire NW of Twan Creek to Tautri Lake Road to Pelican Lake Road to 100 Road.
Marguerite Ferry (C10221)
Size: 2,400.0 hectares; 90% contained
South of Meldrum Creek (C20189)
14,362.0 hectares; 95% contained
Structural protection personnel will focus on residences in Meldrum Creek.

Bull Complex:This complex is made up of a series of fires in the area. 34,000.0 hectares (estimated)

(C50234)The fire 5km SW of Alexis Creek is 12,213 hectares and 80% contained. This fire joined with fire C50238. 35km of guard has been laid.
(C50183) 5km W of Alexis Creek, 5,200 has, 100 % contained. 44 km of guard has been laid. Smoke may be visible from this fire as it burns within itself. Today, crews will be patrolling the fire's perimeter looking for hot spots.
(C50186) The fire 20km N of Alexis Creek is 15,961.7 hectares, 75% contained and 6km of guard has been laid. Crews are continuing to build the guard around the northwest boundary.

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Posted on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 10:13 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Loki on August 24 2010 11:56 AM

Surprise! Rain slows or extinguishes forest fires.

No matter how many boots are on the ground, or how much money we throw at it, forest fires will rage. They will continue to rage up until about mid September when the rain and fall moisture suppresses it all. Then we wait till next summer for the cycle to begin again.

Back burn structures, infrastructure, power lines, et el, and leave the rest to go natural.

305,568 ha burned out of a total 95 million hectares
http://www.bcclimatechange.ca/bc-global-leader-in-forest-management/default.aspx
[url]http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Statistics.asp[\url]
of which o less than 1% is harvested.

So why are we pissing away $150 million per year on average?

Train interface residents to back burn their areas, watch the rest for a safe distance.

Posted by: He spoke on August 24 2010 12:32 PM

Loki, it seems so simple to you.

Unfortunately, it is about lives and livelihood at stake. 150 million is a drop in the bucket, compared to the return you get out of processing trees.

Firefighters do make a difference.

Posted by: Loki on August 24 2010 2:30 PM

God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.

Posted by: Retired on August 24 2010 4:03 PM

Loki, I couldn't agree with you more. They lost two lives in a plane crash but the stupidity continues.

My idea would be to let those who harvest the timber and take the profit from our forests be responsible for protecting their timber stands. If its crown land let it burn. An infestation will probably destroy it in the future..

Its time we stopped depending on mother nature for survival we are in the 21st century. We are smart enough to put men on the moon so why cant we develop secondary industry to support our nation?
Cheers