VIDEO / Updated BC Forest Service crews have contained a slash blaze that broke out near Duck Lake Tuesday, July 9.
“For all intents and purposes the fire is out,” said Coastal Fire Centre fire information officer Marg Drysdale on Wednesday afternoon, July 10. Fire crews had the fire encircled and were in control.
The crews have since left, but the fire centre will keep watch for hot spots, she said.
She credited the strong initial response of three fire crews on the ground with the help of helicopters and the Martin Mars aircraft bombarding the fire with water.
Fire crews were brought in Tuesday afternoon to fight the two-hectare-sized fire located approximately three kilometres northeast of Powell River airport.
By Wednesday morning the fire had been 50 per cent contained and reduced from knee height open flames to a smouldering ground or creeping surface fire.
The fire was contained to a forested area and did not put area homes at risk. According to Drysdale the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
After 24 hours of attacking a slash fire located just outside Powell River, BC Forest Service crews have it fully contained.
“[Firefighters] have a ring around the fire and they are working from the outside in,” said Coastal Fire Centre fire information officer Marg Drysdale. “For all intents and purposes the fire is out.”
The crews will be demobilized off the fire today, Wednesday, July 10, she said. However, the fire centre will keep watch for hot spots over the next few days.
“It got knocked back fairly well with the air tankers on it and the helicopters bucketing,” said Drysdale.
Three crews of initial attack firefighters from the Coastal Fire Centre, two helicopters equipped with water buckets and a Martin Mars water-bombing aircraft were brought in Tuesday afternoon, July 9, to fight the two-hectare-sized fire. The fire was located approximately three kilometres northeast of the Powell River airport.
As of 10 am Wednesday, July 10 the fire centre reported that the fire had been 50 per cent contained and had been reduced from having knee height open flames down to a smoldering ground or creeping surface fire.
The fire was contained to a forested area and did not put area homes at risk.
Crews knock back Duck Lake fire
Firefighters renew efforts against slash blaze
BC Forest Service crews picked up their fight against a brush fire located near Duck Lake this morning, Wednesday, July 10.
Three crews of initial attack firefighters from the Coastal Fire Centre, two helicopters equipped with water buckets and a Martin Mars water-bombing aircraft were brought in Tuesday afternoon, July 9, to fight the two-hectare-sized fire. The fire is located approximately three kilometres northeast of the Powell River airport.
“It got knocked back fairly well with the air tankers on it and the helicopters bucketing,” said Marg Drysdale, fire information officer.
As of 10 am the fire centre reported that the fire had been 50 per cent contained and had been reduced from having knee height open flames down to a smoldering ground or creeping surface fire.
Ten firefighters, six industry personnel and a water tanker are currently at the scene.
The fire is contained to forested area and did not put area homes at risk.
Crews battle fire near airport
Helicopter to drop water en route
BC Forest Service crews responded to a report of a forest fire located near the Powell River airport on Tuesday afternoon, July 9.
John Ede from the Powell River Weather Station located at the airport reported the fire just before 3 pm after he saw smoke. The fire is located approximately five kilometres to the northeast of the airport.
Donna MacPherson, fire information officer for the Coastal Fire Centre said the situation is evolving.
“When the first crew arrived at the fire they reported that the fire appeared to be about 0.5 hectares in size in a clearcut slash,” she said. The fire has now expanded to two hectares in size.
Coastal Fire Centre initially sent two initial attack forest fire fighting crews in two helicopters, an officer, as well as a helicopter that will be dropping water on the fire. Now another attack crew has been sent with an officer, another water bucket helicopter and the Martin Mars water bomber.
“What we’re looking at is a rank two fire with open flame about knee height,” she said.
BC Forest Service crews responded to a report of a forest fire located near the Powell River airport on Tuesday afternoon, July 9.
John Ede from the Powell River Weather Station located at the airport reported the fire just before 3 pm after he saw smoke. The fire is currently located approximately five kilometres to the northeast of the airport.
Donna MacPherson, fire information officer for the Coastal Fire Centre said the situation is evolving.
“When the first crew arrived at the fire they reported that the fire appeared to be about 0.5 hectares in size in a clearcut slash,” she said.
Coastal Fire Centre has sent two initial attack forest fire fighting crews in two helicopters, an officer, as well as a helicopter that will be dropping water on the fire.
“There’s a total of seven personnel either [working] on the fire or en route,” she said. “What we’re looking at is a rank two fire with open flame about knee height.”
