Successful Controlled Burn at Deka Lake

Courtesy of the Cariboo RD's Emergency Operations Centre:

A successful controlled burn in the battle against wildfires in the Deka Lake area on Monday has Volunteer Fire Chief Al Boyce grateful for the hard work and dedication of his crew, the community, and all the other firefighters who helped with the effort.

“I’m so impressed with the dedication of the volunteers of the Deka Lake Volunteer Fire Department and our fellow volunteer halls across the Cariboo, the work of BC Wildfire Service, and the responders who are coming from around the province to assist us,” says Boyce. “The controlled burn removed available fuel between the fires edge and the fuel free guard. This strategy slows down and helps limit the spread of the wildfire by decreasing the amount of fire perimeter that must be managed by BCWS staff.”

Boyce notes that there have not been any structures lost to date, roadblocks are in place, and patrols are maintaining security while the evacuation order is in place.

“I want our residents to rest assured that their community is still here,” says Boyce

Cariboo Regional District Board Chair Margo Wagner is also praising the work of fire crews and first responders.

“Cariboo firefighters have hard-won experience battling wildfires from previous years. That expertise is paying dividends across the region in 2021. Our local first responders and all those answering the call from other parts of the province are doing an incredible job under challenging circumstances.”