The 70 Mile Volunteer Fire Department actively helped the BC Wildfire Service bring wildfires in their area under control last week.
Teresa McWilliams, secretary for 70 Mile VFD, said that they assisted on all four of the wildfires that were burning near 70 Mile House from July 22 to 26. This included both active support and providing local knowledge of the area.
“Our fire department was first to report Fire Number C41438 shortly after it was started by lightning. It was visible from North Bonaparte Road and our Chief set up spark watch all along our area of protection for the North Bonaparte egress corridor,” McWilliams said. “We had a crew go into the bush prior to the arrival of BC Wildfire and BC Forestry to locate the fire more precisely and determine an access route.”
Thanks in part to their efforts this fire, located northwest of Sodium Lake, was listed as being held at only three hectares on Wednesday, July 24. It has since been declared out.
McWilliams said the 70 Mile VFD stayed on top of the situation and reviewed their contingency plans, in case the fires further encroached on the community.
“We have been providing “local knowledge” of terrain and routes into the various fires,” McWilliams said. “Several access roads have now been cut in to provide direct attack on the fires.”
The wildfire the 70 Mile VFD was most concerned about was the one burning at Twin Creeks, which was showing aggressive behaviour on Tuesday and had grown to 280 hectares. Classified by the BC Wildfire Service as C41501.
McWilliams said BC Wildfire deployed crews, heavy equipment and air support to bring these fires under control. 70 Mile House's firefighters are currently on standby to provide water access and maintain spark watch throughout the area.
“We had crew at the Eco-Depot all day (Tuesday) to ensure no ember-caused fires could threaten it. We have committed to provide fire protection to the Eco-Depot,” McWilliams said. “The Eco-Depot is the eastern limit of our protection area, however, we protect the North Bonaparte Road egress corridor from the Sani station to Highway 97. We will do everything we can to prevent this important escape route from being blocked by fire.”
During this time McWilliams said the department maintained constant communication with the South Green Lake Volunteer Fire Department, the Watch Lake/North Green Lake Volunteer Fire Department and TNRD director Jim Smith to ensure the safety of the community.
“Our well-equipped and trained structural protection unit stands ready to protect this community.”
The Twin Creek Fire, as of Monday, July 29, is now listed as being held while the other fires near 70 Mile House have been extinguished.
