A strong wind and a downed poplar tree, a live power line and a spreading fire – and some amazing work by first responders.
In the words of Bonnie Dart: “You cannot embellish it enough.”
The wind picked up and we heard ‘crack-crack’ and a tree fell on the power line and a fire started, Dart says.
“It went up the tree and the Greeny Lake Volunteer Fire Department (GLVFD) responded immediately. It was spreading across the ground.”
Dart is describing a fire that broke out in front of her cabin on North Greeny Lake Road on Aug. 11. Dart, her husband, Peter, and her brother Ken Duckett, who has a cabin next door, now have some very high praise for the GLVFD.
“I thought everyone on the lake was trapped. The fire went up the tree and the wind was blowing and it flared up. They responded fast and they acted professionally and they put it out.
“It could have been huge because the wind was blowing and the ground is all dry.... We cannot express our gratitude enough.”
The call came in at 3:08 p.m. and within five minutes, the GLVFD was on scene attacking with water, fire chief Ken Gisby says, adding the situation was tricky and precarious in a few different ways.
“There’s probably 250,000 volts going down that tree looking for ground and once it hit the ground, it really started to burn into the dead grass. With the power coming down the tree and starting the fire, the whole ground is energized. Using water, electricity is going to follow up the nozzle of the fire hose.”
When Gisby learned it would be at least 90 minutes before BC Hydro could shut off power to the line, he ordered his men back 40 feet, as they worked to extinguish the ground fire, approximately 30 feet in diameter. Eventually the poplar tree burnt off the
line and with no electricity to worry about, Gisby and nine other members of the GLVFD were able to douse the flames and mop up the area.
“I have good volunteers. We’ve practised this many times. With the way they listen and practice, I’m very proud of them.”
Open House
The GLVFD is having its Super Boat Raffle and 2013 Open House at the Greeny Lake Community Fire Hall on Aug. 31 between 1 and 5 p.m.
Tickets are $20 and six prizes are up for grabs, including a 14-foot G3 aluminum boat, including a trailer, engine, trolling motor, fish finder and extra seat, valued at $15,500.