BC Wildfire Service continues to respond to an estimated 64-hectare wildfire, near Churn Creek Protected Area, south of Canoe Creek and Dog Creek.
Twenty-two BCWS personnel, two water tenders, and a helicopter were on site today. Ground crews are working with the helicopter, conducting bucket operations to contain the perimeter, as well as establishing a hose lay. Fire activity is decreasing with these efforts, and the crews will continue to establish relay tanks for water and patrol the perimeter.
The fire is suspected to be human-caused, but it is under investigation, fire information assistant Andrea Robinson said.
This fire is not a result of the prescribed burn started at Churn Creek earlier this week. The prescribed burn was several kilometres south and on the west side of the Fraser River, whereas this is on the east side of the Fraser River.
Fire personnel is also battling a 30-kilometre fire near Forest Grove. That fire is said to “be held” at this time.
Robinson said the BCWS is monitoring the fire situation in the region daily and will look at a number of factors to determine whether an open burning prohibition is appropriate. Factors include fire activity and forecasted weather.
“The current weather forecast shows a downturn in weather. Over the next few days, it is expected that the weather will trend cooler and wetter,” she said in an email to the Free Press. “We will continue to monitor this situation closely. However, we remind anyone conducting open burning to that you do so responsibly.”
Those planning to burn should ensure they have water on site, a fireguard around the burn area and not to burn in windy conditions and leave the fire unattended.
“Human-caused wildfires are entirely preventable and unnecessarily divert firefighting resources from naturally occurring fires.”
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The BC Wildfire Service is currently responding to a 64-hectare blaze across from Churn Creek.
More than 34 BCWS personnel and two water tenders are on site, west of 100 Mile House, with two helicopters providing aerial support to assist with suppression efforts. Smoke could be seen as far away as Williams Lake.
There are currently no structures threatened at this time.
The fire, first reported Thursday, is believed to have been human-caused.
More to come.