Daily BC Wildfire Report/Cariboo Fire Centre - Aug 16th at 12 noon

Courtesy of the BC Wildfire Service/Cariboo Fire Centre:

There are currently 85 active wildfires within the Cariboo Fire Centre. One fire was called out yesterday in the 100 Mile Fire Zone. Three new fires were discovered yesterday, one within the Quesnel Fire Zone and two within the Chilcotin Fire Zone.

The fire danger rating in the Cariboo Fire Centre is currently to ‘high’ west of the Fraser River with pockets of ‘extreme’. East of the Fraser River it is ‘moderate’ to ‘low’.  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

We are anticipating a mix of sun and clouds with a slight chance of afternoon showers east of the Fraser River. Winds are expected to be light and variable. Highs will be in the low to upper 20s and we are anticipating northwesterly 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 at www.bcwildfire.ca. 

Shag Creek (C11837)

The Shag Creek wildfire is west of Shag Creek and north of the Itcha mountains. It is estimated at 9300 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 24 personnel, four helicopters, and six pieces of heavy equipment on site Ground crews worked throughout the night to establish guard on the northern flank and had success on completing guard on the western flank. Crews will reinforce machine guard with burn operations if conditions are favourable. Yesterday, the burn on the northeastern corner of the fire was successful. 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 70 per cent containment.There are 99 firefighters, five helicopters, 17 pieces of heavy equipment and three water tenders on site. The burn operations on the northern and southern flanks were successful in cleaning up unburned fuels. The southern flank is now being patrolled for hot spots. Heavy equipment will focus on completing the machine guard on the remaining portions of the northeastern and eastern flanks. Ground personnel will focus on preparing for burn operations that will assist with securing the guard, weather conditions permitting. 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

North Baezaeko (C11937)

The North Baezaeko fire is located south of Kluskoil Lake Park, about 85 kilometres west of Quesnel. It is estimated at 2500 hectares. There are 58 personnel, two helicopter, nine pieces of heavy equipment and one water tender on site. Crews worked throughout the night again to continue establishing containment lines with equipment. Ground crews will work to establish contingency lines and will burn off where possible in order to reinforce the guard. There was a spot across the guard that has since been contained. An Evacuation Alert and Order was implemented by the Cariboo Regional District due other fires in the area and overlaps with this fire also. 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 and is 70 per cent contained.There are 60 firefighters, one helicopter, six pieces of heavy equipment and three water tenders on site. This fire is 100 per cent guarded around the perimeter but there are still unburned fuels between the guard and the fire. The western and eastern guards have been reinforced. Crews are working to secure a 10 foot blackline around the entire fire perimeter over the next two days. 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 40 firefighters, nine pieces of heavy equipment and two helicopters on site. Ground crews are securing the southwest perimeter to Horsefly Lake. Crews are patrolling the north perimeter and extinguishing hot spots. This fire is no longer considered a Wildfire of Note and will be removed from the website tomorrow at 10:00.

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 10 firefighters and two pieces of heavy equipment on site. Ground crews will continue working to remove fuel between the fire and the guard. This fire is 100 per cent guarded. 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

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 70 percent contained. There are 56 firefighters, one helicopter, and seven pieces of heavy equipment on site. No growth was seen, however the fire did produce smoke that was visible to surrounding communities yesterday. This was attributed to heavy timber continuing to smoulder; this was well within the perimeter of the fire. Ground crews will continue to direct attack the wildfire, where it is safe to do so. Weather conditions permitting, there is a planned ignition on the southeast corner of the fire. This is being conducted to remove unburned fuels and reinforce the guard on that flank of the fire. 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, five fires Under Control and twelve fires in Out of Control status.

1. There are two fires in the area of North Baezaeko, south of Kluskoil Lake Park. The eastern fire is estimated at 2500 hectares and the western fire 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 is one fire Being Held, are ten fires Under Control and one fire in Out of Control status.

1. The Mayfield Lake Fire 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 22 active fires. All fires have been assessed and actioned in priority sequence. Four fires are Being Held, six are Under Control and 12 are in Out of Control status.

1. 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.
2. The fire north of Lang Lake is estimated at 345 hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.
3. The Hendrix Ridge fire is estimated at 110 hectares. This fire is being actioned by industry.
4. The fire three kilometres east of McNeil Lake is estimated at 15 hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.
5. The fire 16 kilometres north of Canim Lake is estimated at 117 hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.
6. Twin Creek wildfire is still 585 hectares and has been removed as a Wildfire of Note. Crews continue to make excellent progress.
7. Although the Young Lake fire is in Being Held status we have received inquiries. It remains at 245 hectares in size and is being actioned by 17 firefighters and a strike team.  

Chilcotin zone

The Chilcotin Fire Zone currently has nine active wildfires. Six fires are Out of Control, three fires are Under Control and one fire is Being Held.

1. Two new fires are located near Bald Face Mountain, east of the Itcha Ilgachuz Park. The northern fire is estimated at 1232 hectares and the southern fire is estimated at 110 hectares. There are 43 personnel and 11 pieces of heavy equipment working to establish guard on these fires. *Please note one of these fires is located within the Quesnel zone*
2. The Wilderness Lake fire is estimated at 4.1 hectares. This fire is being monitored closely by the BC Wildfire Service.
3. The fire south of Bull Canyon is estimated at five hectares. There are 21 ground personnel on site this today and equipment is working to build a machine guard.
4. The fire south of Alexis Lake is estimated at 84 hectares. There are 32 personnel, one water tender and two pieces of heavy equipment on site today.