Daily BC Wildfire Report/Cariboo Fire Centre -- Aug 14, 2018/12:39pm

Courtesy of the BC Wildfire Service/Cariboo Fire Centre:

There are currently 82 active wildfires within the Cariboo Fire Centre, with two fires being called out yesterday. One was located within the Quesnel Zone and one within the 100 Mile Zone. A new fire was discovered today located North Baezaeko and south of Kluskoil Lake Park. One new spot fire was discovered in the Cariboo Fire Centre since yesterday, located 21 kilometres north-east of 100 Mile House and is estimated to be less than one hectare.

The fire danger rating in the Cariboo Fire Centre is currently ‘high’ throughout the western portion of the fire centre with pockets of ‘extreme’ and is ‘low’ for the majority of the eastern portion with pockets of ‘moderate’ along the Fraser River and the south-western portion of the Cariboo Fire Centre.  The BC Wildfire Service website displays the current fire danger rating for the province here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/wildfire-situation/fire-danger

There is extensive smoke throughout the fire centre this morning. We are anticipating a mix of sun and clouds with highs of 26 and southeasterly winds today.

Summary of Wildfires of Note

Below is the summary for the nine Wildfires of Note within the Cariboo Fire Centre, up to date information on these fires can also be found atwww.bcwildfire.ca. 

Shag Creek (C11837)

The Shag Creek wildfire is west of Shag Creek and north of the Itcha mountains. It is estimated at 8410 hectares. The fire at this time is being closely monitored by the Cariboo Fire Centre. An Evacuation Order has been implemented by the Cariboo Regional District for properties in the Shag Creek area. For more information, please visit the Cariboo Regional District Website: www.cariboord.bc.ca.

Blackwater River (C12328)
The Blackwater River fire is east of Blackwater River in the Nazko area. It is mapped at 4519 hectares.

There are 17 personnel, one helicopter, and six pieces of heavy equipment on site. The BC Wildfire Service is formulating a containment plan and mobilizing resources. There are a number of road systems and cut blocks on the area that ground crews will utilize to tie guard into.  An Evacuation Alert and Order has been implemented by the Cariboo Regional District. For more information, please visit the Cariboo Regional District Website:www.cariboord.bc.ca

Narcosli Creek (C12302)
The Narcosli Creek fire is located north of Tzenzaicut Lake, west of the Fraser River. It is mapped at 3400 hectares and has 50 per cent containment. There are 104 firefighters, five helicopters and ten pieces of heavy equipment on site. Ground crews will continue burn operations to remove unburned fuels between the fire and the guard. The fire is now 90 per cent guarded around the perimeter. Night operations with heavy equipment and ground crews worked throughout the night. Bucketing operations have been limited due to poor visibility, however, five helicopters are on site to assist when conditions allow. Crews will focus on constructing machine guard and the northeast flank. Please note the size was previously estimated at 3700 hectares, however, we were able to retrieve more accurate tracks and the fire is now listed as 3400 hectares. An Evacuation Alert and Order has been implemented by the Cariboo Regional District for properties in the West Quesnel area. For more information, please visit the Cariboo Regional District Website: www.cariboord.bc.ca

Mayfield Lake (C22371)
The Mayfield Lake fire is located northwest of Mayfield Lake and south of Williams Lake. It is estimated at 300 hectares. There are 60 firefighters, two helicopters and six pieces of heavy equipment are on site. This fire is 100 per cent guarded around the perimeter but there are still unburned fuels between the guard and the fire, therefore, this is considered to be 60 per cent contained. Crews are working on the northern and eastern flanks to prepare for controlled ignitions. An Evacuation Alert has been implemented by the Cariboo Regional District for properties in the Mayfield Lake area. For more information, please visit the Cariboo Regional District Website: www.cariboord.bc.ca

Horsefly Lake (C31678)
The Horsefly Lake fire is located north of Horsefly Lake and east of Haggens Point Road. It is estimated at 1139 hectares and is 90 per cent contained. There are 30 firefighters, nine pieces of heavy equipment and two helicopters on site. Ground crews aim to complete the guard on the east flank today. Crews are direct attacking the western flank by laying hose and removing fuel.

Lang Lake (C42138) 

The Lang Lake fire is five kilometres southeast of Lang Lake and 10 kilometres north of Canim Lake. It is estimated at 440 hectares and 70 per cent contained. There are five firefighters and four pieces of heavy equipment on site. Ground crews will continue working to gain containment around the perimeter, focusing on the southern flank of the fire. An Evacuation Alert been implemented by the Cariboo Regional District. The Order that was in place for the C42393, located north of C42138, has been downgraded to an Alert. For more information, please visit the Cariboo Regional District Website: www.cariboord.bc.ca

Houseman Road (C42363) 

The Houseman Road fire is located southwest of Buffalo Lake and about 13 kilometres east of the community of 100 Mile House. It is mapped at 19.5 hectares and 100 per cent contained. There are 26 personnel on site. The fire is now considered to be in Under Control status, therefore, it will no longer be considered a Wildfire of Note and will be removed from the webpage at 10:00 on August 15, 2018. The Evacuation Order and Alert have been lifted by the Cariboo Regional District. For more information, please visit the Cariboo Regional District Website: www.cariboord.bc.ca.

Twin Creek (C42324)

The Twin Creek fire is located southeast of 70 Mile House. It is estimated at 585 hectares and is now 100 per cent contained. There are 58 firefighters, one helicopter, and three pieces of heavy equipment on site. This fire is now considered to be in Being Held status. This fire is now 100 per cent machine guarded and crews are working to mop up hot spots in the interior of the fire. The Evacuation Order was rescinded; however, the Evacuation Alert remains in place by the Thompson Nicola Regional District for properties near the Bonaparte Plateau, including properties on Hutchinson Road.  For more information, please visit the Thompson-Nicola Regional District website: www.tnrd.ca.

Wild Goose Lake (C41745)

The Wild Goose Lake fire is west of Meadow Lake and west of the community of Clinton. It is estimated at 7228 hectares and is 40 percent contained. There are 50 firefighters, one helicopter, and 13 pieces of heavy equipment on site. Ground crews have made good progress and are continuing to establish containment lines on the northern flanks, and are working on establishing hose lines, danger tree assessing and falling on the eastern flank. An Evacuation Alert and Order has been implemented by the Thompson Nicola Regional District and Cariboo Regional District for properties surrounding Wild Goose Lakes. For more information, please visit the Thompson-Nicola Regional District website: www.tnrd.ca and the Cariboo Regional District Website:www.cariboord.bc.ca

Summary of Other Wildfires 

Below is a summary of other active fires, by zone, as of first thing this morning. Within this summary, only fires that are over four hectares and are in Out of Control status will be highlighted. For current sizes on wildfires not listed below, please check the All Current Wildfires web page.

Quesnel Fire Zone

There are 20 active wildfires burning in this zone. There are three fires Being Held, seven fires Under Control and ten fires in Out of Control status.

1. There are two fires in the area of North Baezaeko, south of Kluskoil Lake Park. C11937 is estimated at 2500 hectares and C12637 was discovered today and is estimated at 370 hectares.
2. The Yuzkli Lake fire is south of Big Valley Creek and estimated at 40 hectares. There are no communities or structures are threatened at this time.
3. The fire west of Mustang Lakes is estimated at 100 hectares. This fire is in steep terrain that is inaccessible to ground crews.

Williams Lake Zone

There are 12 active wildfires burning in this zone. There are ten fires Under Control and two fires in Out of Control status.

1. The fire south-west of Springhouse is estimated at 300 hectares (see Wildfires of Note section above).

Horsefly zone

There are 22 active wildfires fires burning in this zone. All fires have been assessed and actioned in priority sequence. Seven fires are Being Held, four are Under Control, and eleven are out of Control

1. The Quartz Mountain fire is estimated at 700 hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.
2. The Boulderly Creek fire, located on the east arm of Quesnel Lake is estimated at 80 hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.
3. The fire west of Warttig Lake is estimated at 50 hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.
4. The Tisdal Lake fire is estimated at six hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.
5. The wildfire East of Mitchell Lake is estimated at 5.5 hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.
6. The Roaring River Valley fire is estimated at 1000 hectares. This fire is located in the high alpine and is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.

100 Mile zone

There are 23 active fires. All fires have been assessed and actioned in priority sequence. Five fires are Being Held, five are Under Control and 13 are in Out of Control status.

1. The Young Lake fire is estimated 245 hectares. This fire is now in Being Held status and there are 12 personnel and two helicopters on site.
2. The fire southwest of Clearwater Lake, north of Mahood Lake is estimated at 80 hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.
3. The fire north of Lang Lake is estimated at 345 hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.
4. The Hendrix Ridge fire is estimated at 110 hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.
5. The fire three kilometres east of McNeil Lake is estimated at 15 hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.
6. The fire 16 kilometres north of Canim Lake is estimated at 117 hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.

Chilcotin zone

The Chilcotin Fire Zone currently has four active wildfires. One is Out of Control and three fires are Under Control.

1. Two new fires are located near Bald Face Mountain, east of the Itcha Ilgachuz Park. The northern fire is estimated at 300 hectares and the southern fire is estimated at 110 hectares. There are 47 firefighters and nine pieces of heavy equipment working to establish guard on these fires. *Please note one of these fires is located within the Quesnel zone*