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Update: Crews and equipment battling wildfire southwest of Lac La Hache while campfire ban looms for Chilcotin region

Update:
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BC Wildfire crews and equipment are battling a 36-hectare wildfire 40 kilometres southwest of Lac La Hache that was discovered Friday. BC Wildfire Service image.

Update:

The wildfire burning 40 kilometres southwest of Lac La Hache is currently being held and not likely to spread, said fire information officer Natasha Broznitsky Monday. “It is still 36 hectares and has not grown in the last couple of days. We’ve determined the cause was lightning.”

On Monday there were 60 firefighters, one piece of equipment and one helicopter on site.

By noon on Thursday, June 29, Broznitsky said there will a campfire ban imposed for the Chilcotin region.

“In fact if anyone is recreating in the Cariboo region they should check to see what bans and restrictions are in place,” she added. “And regardless of the BC Wildfire restrictions, they should also check their local municipality’s bans.”

Across the Cariboo Fire Centre the wildfire risks are high to extreme, she added.

“We are asking anyone who observes smoke to report it to 1-800-663-5555 or on their cell phone call *5555.”

Meanwhile, a wildfire discovered Sunday near Tatla Lake is under control and is estimated to be 3.3 hectares in size, not six hectares as originally thought.

“We have 16 firefighters, one piece of heavy equipment and one helicopter on site,” Broznitsky said.

Original story:

Cariboo Fire Centre said A wildfire burning 40 kilometres southwest of Lac La Hache has grown to an estimated 36 hectares overnight, with smoke visible from nearby communities.

As of Saturday afternoon, the BC Wildfire service said the fire is 100 per cent contained, but classified as “out of control.”

“It is not being held at this time because although there are control lines around 100 per cent of the fire, we are not confident it will not spread beyond control lines,” the BC Wildfire website noted. “Crews are working to reinforce control lines with heavy equipment.”

The Cariboo Fire Centre is presently fighting the fire with 55 firefighters, one helicopter, two pieces of heavy equipment and air tankers.

While the cause of the fire is unknown at this time, CFC fire information officer Natasha Broznitsky said Friday the fire was discovered Friday and was classified as being “out of control,” by 7:30 p.m.

“This wildfire does not pose an immediate threat to public safety or homes at this time,” Broznitsky said. “This fire is burning in close proximity to provincial transmission lines, and authorities have been notified. This fire is also approximately five kilometres away from Esketem’c First Nation Territory, and members of the Esketem’c First Nation have been engaged.”

At about 6:30 p.m. Friday water bombers began arriving at Chimney Lake to draw water for attacking the fire, Chimney Lake resident Gabriele Lachapelle said Saturday morning.

“They came back about three times and we looked for smoke but could not see any and wondered where a fire was,” she said.

By Saturday morning, Sue Voth who was visiting at Chimney Lake overnight and first saw the smoke early Friday evening, said the bombers were back taking water from the lake by about 10:15 a.m. and had returned for a total of three loads.

“There is still smoke today, but not like yesterday,” Voth said. “There is a light haze.”

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Monica Lamb-Yorski

About the Author: Monica Lamb-Yorski

A B.C. gal, I was born in Alert Bay, raised in Nelson, graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my first-ever article for the Prince Rupert Daily News.
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