Friday, September 1, 2023

Cariboo Fire Centre Update - August 31st, 2023

From the Cariboo Fire Centre:

1) Weather Update

Shower activity across the southern portions of the Fire Centre this morning will slowly decrease during the day as the upper low drifts south. At the same time, more sunny breaks and drier conditions will begin to appear in the north. Winds will remain light northwesterly today with some afternoon gusts in the 25 to 35 km/h range. Tonight, a clearing trend is expected in the Fire Centre. Cooling will take place tonight, with lows of 2 to 8 C and frost likely over the Northern Chilcotin and western portions of the Quesnel zone. On Friday the ridge will continue to strengthen and will lie directly over the Fire Centre during the afternoon, bringing sunny, warm, dry conditions and light northwestern winds

2) Region Overview

The Cariboo Fire Centre has 8 new fires as of last week, which have been actioned by crews and air support.

The last Incident Management Team active in the Cariboo Fire Centre, managing the Kappan Complex, is being demobilized, and management of the wildfires VA1456, VA1462, VA1167, VA1735, G41158, C51571, C11405, and C11892 will be returned to the Cariboo and Coastal Fire Centres.

All open fires remain prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre and the Tsilhqot’in (Xeni Gwet’in) Declared Title Area Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

The following activities and equipment are also restricted:

Fireworks, sky lanterns, burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description, binary exploding targets, tiki and similar kinds of torches, chimineas and air curtain burners.

3) Number of Active Fires 

Fires currently burning: 21
New fires last week: 8

4) Active Fires Breakdown by Zone

Quesnel Zone: There are six active fires in the Quesnel Zone.

C11290 (Townsend Creek) is 2,785 hectares and classified as Under Control
C11437 (Pelican Lake) is 4,422 hectares and classified as Under Control
C11499 (Teepee Lake) is 7,864 hectares and classified as Under Control
C12135 (Burgess Creek) is 270 hectares and classified as Under Control
G41560 started in the Prince George Fire Centre, and has moved south into the Quesnel Zone. It is 1,144 hectares and is Being Held.

G11293 started in the Prince George Fire Centre, and has moved south into the Quesnel Zone. It is being actioned by the Prince George Fire Centre.

Central Cariboo Zone: There are 10 active fires within the Central Cariboo Zone.

C30399, C31143, C31349, C31442, C31684, C32266, and C32539 are located in the Horsefly Lake-Quesnel Lake area, are classified as Being Held and are being handled with a modified response.

C30446 is located in the Horsefly Lake – Quesnel Lake area, is classified as Under Control and is being handled with a modified response.

C22544 is 1 hectare and is Under Control.

Chilcotin Zone: There are six active fires within the Chilcotin Zone.

C51562 (Satah Mountain) is 6,660 hectares and is classified as Under Control
C51571 (Anahim Peak) is 3350 hectares and is classified as Under Control
C51974 (Bull Canyon Park) is 1,306 hectares and classified as Under Control
C51981 is 1,400 hectares and classified as Under Control
C52978 is 1.1 hectares and Out of Control.

C53002, located on the Chilko River, is 1,120 hectares and Out of Control. It has been actioned by air tankers and heavy equipment, and has crews and air support assigned to the incident. The South side of the fire is contained with a control line. Patrol and mop-up are taking place on the East flank, and heavy equipment is now focusing on constructing guard on the North and West flanks.

"Out of Control": The fire is not contained, and still has potential to spread.
"Being Held": Under current fire conditions, such as wind and weather, the fire is not expected to grow.
"Under control": The fire is not expected to grow any larger.

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