After 20 mm of rain over the weekend, the West Kiskatinaw Fire has not been very active this week. However, winds and warmer weather may cause fire behaviour to pick up.
That said, BCWS is not expecting any significant change over the next few days. “We haven’t observed any growth on the fires and have no updates for size since June 14,” says BCWS Information Officer Sharron Nickel.
The biggest news, she says, is an Incident Management Team from the US took command of the complex on Monday, June 19.
The 14 member team includes firefighters from Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Montana. They’ll be stationed here for the next two weeks, alongside two fire and para-attack crews.
Although the temperature is expected to start getting warmer and windier, there is also periods of rain in the forecast, and BCWS doesn’t expect the fire to grow much beyond it’s current boundaries. “There is some potential for wind gusts to accompany the thundershowers,” says Nickel. “With that, there may be an increase in smoke and fire activity/behaviour from within the perimeter.”
She says crews are mopping up and patrolling the perimeter and are utilizing the infrared scan map to locate and extinguish hotspots.
“Just a public safety reminder that area restrictions remain in effect,” says Nickel. “We ask that members of the public abide by signage and avoid traveling on the Bearhole Lake Road, Hourglass Road, Noel Road, M Road and J Road. Aircraft and ground operations may be immediately ceased when persons are found within the fire perimeter and the consequences associated with this interference can be substantial.”
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
