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Waytk (Hello) members:
With unseasonably cool temperatures and recent rain, wildfires in our area remained relatively stable over the weekend. The ongoing drought conditions and wind are impacting firefighting efforts. There is a planned large-scale ignition on the northeast flank of the White Rock Lake Fire which is currently burning approximately 12 km from IR #1 Salmon River. The exact timing of this ignition will depend on weather and site conditions, but it could begin as early as Wednesday, August 25, 2021. Significant planning, forecasting, and data analysis has been completed and will continue to be assessed prior to the ignition operation.
Due to steep and inaccessible terrain in this area of the fire, BC Wildfire Service personnel have determined that a planned ignition is the most favourable tactic to gain control while also maintaining an appropriate safety margin for firefighters. Over the past 72-hours, heavy equipment operators have been working to complete a machine guard along Irish Creek Road, working north towards Irish Creek and then west towards Six Mile Creek. The ignition operation will be completed using a combination of hand and aerial ignitions to remove fuels that currently lie between the control line and the advancing fire. Ground crews and hose lay will be ready to patrol and monitor for any spotting across the constructed machine guard between Westside Road and Irish Creek.
With the current weather forecast, the BC Wildfire Service anticipates being able to conduct this operation as soon as Wednesday. If weather patterns shift drastically from what is expected, operational personnel will reassess alternative potential suppression options. However, at this time there is no alternative suppression tactic that will provide an equal or greater likelihood of success given the fuel type, terrain, and sustained drought conditions expected to persist over the coming weeks.
The planned ignition area is upwards of 1,000 hectares in size. During the ignition operations, significant amounts of smoke will be visible from nearby communities, including Vernon, Armstrong, Glennema, and Falkland. The ignitions will only occur under very specific site conditions and further updates will be provided prior to commencement.
The Splatsin EOC remains continues to monitor the situation and meet with the BC Wildfire Service and Emergency Management BC daily. At this time, the majority of planning and preparedness has been completed by our team. The Evacuation Alert for IR #1 Salmon River remains unchanged. Our EOC continues to actively monitor the situation and it is not the recommendation of our EOC or the BC Wildfire Service to upgrade or downgrade the alert at this time.
For questions, contact the Splatsin EOC:
Read below for a summary of updated information for fires in our area.
White Rock Lake K61884
This fire remains at 80,745 hectares in size and is approximately 12 km from Splatsin.
See details here: http://bcfireinfo.for.gov.bc.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/OneFire.asp?ID=855
Two Mile Road K42078
This fire remains at 2,499 hectares in size and is approximately 25 km from Splatsin.
See details here: http://bcfireinfo.for.gov.bc.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/OneFire.asp?ID=862
Bunting Road K41561
This fire remains at 4,734 hectares and is approximately 31 km from Splatsin.
See details here: http://bcfireinfo.for.gov.bc.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/OneFire.asp?ID=853
Crazy Creek Gorge FSR K41769
This fire remains at 4,358 hectares and approximately 53 km from Splatsin.
See details here: http://bcfireinfo.for.gov.bc.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/OneFire.asp?ID=866
Momich Lake K21658
This fire remains at 16,534 hectares and approximately 73 km from Splatsin.
See details here: http://bcfireinfo.for.gov.bc.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/OneFire.asp?ID=852
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