Skip to content

VIDEO/PHOTOS: A look behind the scenes at the Horsefly Lake fire complex

BC Wildfire Service has the 526-hectare fire 70 per cent contained

Crews from the BC Wildfire Service are gaining the upper hand on the Horsefly Lake fire.

The 526 hectare fire, discovered on July 31 and lightning-caused, is nearly 80 per cent contained, said incident commander Todd Flanagan.

Flanagan said they are building a fire guard around the entire perimeter of the fire and will let it slowly burn itself out over the next month, under the watchful eye of BC Wildfire Service who will continue to monitor it.

Related article: Evacuation alert lifted for 93 properties near Quesnel Lake

Related article: UPDATE: Optimistic day for crews working the Horsefly Lake fire

Crews hit the fire hard when it was first discovered, however, wind combined with the fuel load within the cut-blocks made it flare up Tuesday evening, forcing an evacuation alert which has since been lifted.

Currently there are about twenty fires burning between Horsefly and Quesnel Lake, none of which are threatening any structures at this time.

See below for photos.



Do you have a comment about this story? email:
editor@wltribune.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_10
A look at the progress being made on the fire guard.
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_11
Firefighters work to put out a small, one-hectare fire within the Horsefly Lake Fire complex.
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_12
The South Quartz Mountain fire on the east arm of Quesnel Lake, which is burnin gin remote, steep rugged terrain, will be monitored, and a possible fire guard put in place at the top of the mountain the stop it from spreading.
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_13
Horsefly Lake Fire incident commander takes the Tribune on a tour of the twenty fires burning between Horsefly and Quesnel Lake.
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_14
Crews worked recently to put out a lightning-caused fire in the Grain Creek area of Quesnel Lake in steep terrain.
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_15
One of the many small fires burning east of Horsefly.
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_16
This aerial shows the heavy slash load left after logging in the Horsefly Lake area, which can create a fire hazard.
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_17
The Horsefly Lake Fire started on the upper side of the mountain in a cut block, which gave it the wind and fuel load needed to grow.
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_18
An old logging slash pile sits in the forest within the Horsefly Lake Fire complex.
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_19
Ground crews continue their work on the Horsefly Lake Fire complex.
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_20
A BC Wildfire Service employee works to remove hazard trees along the road.
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_21
BC Wildfire Incident Commander Todd Flanagan (left), acting communications specialist Robyn Clark and Paul Bondoc at the Horsefly Lake Fire complex.
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_3
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_4
The Horsefly Lake fire was started by lightning in a small selectively-harvested cut block with a heavy slash load, giving it the fuel it needed to grow so quickly Tuesday evening.
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_5
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_6
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_7
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_8
13015584_web1_180208-WLT-Horsefly-fire-complex_9
A fire guard is currently being put in place around the Horsefly Lake fire to completely contain it. Logs from the guard are being harvested and utilized by B.C. Timber Sales.


Angie Mindus

About the Author: Angie Mindus

A desire to travel led me to a full-time photographer position at the Williams Lake Tribune in B.C.’s interior.
Read more