Eighteen wildfires remain out of control across the Cariboo Fire Centre this Friday, Sept. 5.
The BC Wildfire Service has brought eight of the 31 active wildfires under control and while another five are being held. The largest wildfires near Anahim Lake, however, remain out of control and have .
The largest wildfire in the fire centre remains the Itcha Lake Wildfire, now estimated to be 32,255 hectares as of Thursday, Sept. 4, at 11 a.m. Originally started by lightning, the fire is primarily located within the boundaries of the Itcha Ilgachuz Park, which has been closed to the public.
According to a BCWS update posted yesterday, crews have set up structure protection units on the fire's eastern flank and are working on value protection mop-up work around structures near the fire. Hot and dry conditions have been contributing to the aggressive growth of this fire, with heavy smoke impacting visibility.
Nearby, the Beef Trail Creek Wildfire has led to four evacuation orders being issued for 309 parcels of land near the fire. According to an early morning update on Friday, Sept. 5, the fire is now believed to be 9,325 hectares in size.
BCWS's response to this fire is extensive, with an incident management team, 50 firefighting personnel, structural protection units, helicopters and 12 pieces of heavy equipment all assigned to this fire. To fight the fire, ground crews have conducted controlled ignitions on the fire's southeastern flanks, constructed machine guards and are trying to guide the fire towards preconstructed guards built along the Beef Trail Creek Forest Service Road.
"Heavy equipment is building a contingency guard along Beef Trail Creek FSR, south of Highway 20 and on the Red Cariboo Road. Plans are being developed for ignition operations on the southwest corner and along Highway 20 to prevent the fire from crossing Highway 20 to the south," BCWS said. "Structure protection crews will be conducting assessments along the Dean River Road and will establish structure protection sprinklers where they deem necessary."
South of these two fires towards Tatla Lake are five other large wildfires ranging in size from 300 hectares to over 2,000, all listed as out of control. One of the most visible is the Taccatolie Creek Wildfire, which is burning along the Alexander Mackenzie Highway and is estimated to be 384.39 hectares in size. An incident management team, 63 firefighting personnel, aviation assets, five pieces of heavy equipment and one water tender have been assigned to this fire.
According to a Friday morning update, crews worked on the east and west flanks of the fire with heavy equipment to build containment lines off Highway 20 to tie into Tatla Lake. On the west, crews successfully established water delivery and are mopping up on Thursday, while on the east, crews used hand ignitions to reinforce previously constructed machine lines.
"Today, crews will begin mopping up and securing the hand ignition work from yesterday," BCWS said. "Crews are working on Highway 20, protecting the power poles. Please slow down and watch for workers along Highway 20."
North of Tatla Lake, meanwhile, fire C51730, located near Goat Forest Service Road, now stands at 2,852 hectares in size at last estimate. BCWS said that a night vision helicopter was used to monitor the fire overnight, which displayed aggressive behaviour moving south and west.
"Crews continue to look for opportunities to use existing roads and natural landscape features to slow fire growth to the southeast, south and western flanks," BCWS said. "Crews are using heavy equipment to build guard and are reinforcing those efforts with hand ignitions and mobile water delivery from water tenders and a skidder."
There are currently seven pieces of heavy equipment, 17 firefighters, one helicopter and an incident management team assigned to this fire.
The Dusty Lake Wildfire, meanwhile, has also prompted three evacuation orders and is listed at 4,494 hectares as of Friday morning. BCWS has assigned 13 firefighters, five pieces of heavy equipment and structural protection units, in addition to an incident management team, to this fire. On Thursday, Sept. 4, the wildfire crossed the Dusty Dodge Forest Service Road and has been moving northwest.
"Crews have established a machine guard on the west flank of the fire. Hand ignitions will be used to bring fire’s edge to previously constructed lines on the northwest flank," BCWS said. "The fire continues to grow to the north, south and east."
Much like with the other fires in the area, hot and dry conditions have contributed to aggressive fire behaviour during the heat of the day. Structural protection equipment and defence teams will be working in Nimpo Lake to assess properties and deploy structural protection sprinklers.
Towards the southern parts of the CFC, the Bosk Lake Wildfire remains the largest at 404 hectares in size. The most active parts of this wildfire, BCWS said, are burning upslope on rocky terrain, making on-the-ground work by crews difficult. Today, heavy equipment will be establishing control lines using roads between Bosk Lake and Gotchen Lake on the west and southeast sides of the fires.
"Structure protection assessments have been completed on identified structures south of the wildfire," BCWS said. "BC Wildfire Service personnel are monitoring the incident and developing operational objectives in accessible terrain where it is safe to do so. Aviation resources remain actively engaged in supporting operational objectives."
South of Canim Lake, the Cougar Lake Wildfire is 50 hectares in size and has 38 firefighters assigned with the support of heavy equipment and aviation resources. On Thursday, Sept. 4 skimmers dropped water on the southwest edge of the fire, decreasing its behaviour and mitigating growth to the west.
"Heavy equipment has completed a fuel-free guard on the western flank to the southeast corner, tying into an established cut block and roads," BCWS said. "Ground crews continue to work from the southeastern flank to the northwest flank, establishing a 20-foot wet line. BC Wildfire Service personnel continue to assess and develop operational plans for additional control lines in accessible terrain where it is safe to do so."
The majority of the province is currently under due to wildfire smoke, including the Cariboo and Northern B.C. regions. As a result, many cities in those areas are at a six on , with the potential of ranging up to nine on the scale.
To report a wildfire, contact *5555 of 1-800-663-5555 or use the BCWS App.
