Update: June 16, 1200
The West Kiskatinaw fire remains sitting on the far side of Bearhole Lake road, about 4 km east of town after being pushed 8 km in an afternoon on Thursday, June 8, forcing the evacuation of town.
Nearly all residents had evacuated by 10 pm on July 8.
However, about 150 people remained behind in the town. Some to help, some thinking that they might be able to protect their properties. ”At this time our message to the individuals that are not part of the Emergency Operations Centre and who have decided to stay: the best way you can help us and the responders is to evacuate yourself,” says Fire Chief Dustin Curry, who is running the Emergency Operations Centre. “We understand that’s not an easy decision to make, but we need to stress the importance of having everyone leave so we can focus our efforts in the right places.”
Since the weekend, the winds have shifted, and have been mostly blowing back onto the fire, allowing BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) to work on building a fire break along the Bearhole Lake Road. This has been hindered due to—of all things—the ground being too wet for equipment to work. It has also been raining on and off, with cooler temperatures, all of which have calmed the fire’s behaviour.
According to BCWS, Bearhole Lake Road is the line that they are hoping to hold. If the fire gets past the road, chances are it will run quickly up the hill. The heat of the fire rises, drying out the trees in front of the fire and exacerbating fire behaviour, and sending the fire directly towards the town.
While the fire would be slower down the hill, the winds would also be able to rain sparks down on the town.
The Peavine Creek fire—which along with the West Kiskatinaw fire form the South Peace Fire Complex—has crossed Highway 52 east, while the West Kiskatinaw fire has crossed Highway 52 North (though this fire has since been put out) as well as the Noel and Hourglass roads, leaving only Highway 29 to Chetwynd unaffected.
Highway 52 North has since been reopened, while 52 East is open to Kelly Lake.
Residents from Tumbler Ridge filled up the available accommodation in Chetwynd and Dawson Creek and were being sent to a third reception point in Fort St. John at the Pomeroy Sports Centre.
Residents spent a week away from town, before being allowed to return as of Thursday, June 15 at 10 am.
The fire is estimated at 25,095 ha. That’s up from a previous estimate of 19,714. Fire Information Officer Forrest Tower says the fire has seen little growth over the last few days, but as more information come available, the estimates are much more accurate. With rain and cooler weather, fire behaviour has dropping from rank 5 fire behaviour to rank 3 and lower.
While there have been flare ups, sending plumes of smoke towering over the ridge, BCWS says these have been farther away from town—out near Bearhole Lake.
In town, Wildfire crews have dismantled structural protection on the upper bench and moved on to other fires. There are still 14 structural protection personnel working on the South Peace Complex, mostly in Kelly Lake, where the Peavine Creek fire has been threatening the town town.
Between the two fires of the South Peace Complex—Peavine Creek in the Northeast and the West Kiskatinaw Fire near Tumbler—there are 49 firefighters, nine helicopters and 39 pieces of heavy equipment..
While the weather is getting nicer again, temperatures are expected to remain cooler over the next few days, with showers and rain forecast for most every day the next week.
Winds should continue to blow towards the east.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
