Tag Archives: BC Wildfire Service

Fire

Preparing for a wildfire: the Cortes Island Fire Department

There have been large wildfires on Cortes Island in the distant past. The largest shown in the 2011 Wildfire protection plan was more than 330 acres in extent, and there were two fires that burned close to 250 acres. Those were in 1932, 1924 and 1923, respectively. There hasn’t been a fire larger than 10 hectares since at least 1950. 

This could change, as our summers become warmer and dryer. 

Last week Premier Eby declared a state of emergency in face of the worst wildfire season in BC’s history. 

While there are no major fires in our immediate vicinity, the BC Wildfire service says, “We are in a drought condition. Our forest fire fuels are very dry and the ignition potential is extremely high.” So Cortes Currents asked interim Fire Chief Eli McKenty what the situation is like on Cortes Island.

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Wildfire Update for our area: Day 4 of the State of Emergency

In the midst of the worst fire season in BC’s history, Premier Eby declared a state of Emergency last Friday. 

However there are no major fires in the Discovery Islands. The Village Bay Lake Fire, on Quadra Island, seems to have been brought under control in a single day. Aside from that, the closest wildfires are in Phillips Arm and the Strathcona Provincial Park. 

Cortes Currents asked BC Wildfire Information Officer Kimberly Kelly for an update on local conditions and insight into what they mean.

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B.C. firefighters battled through the night to dampen out-of-control Quadra Island wildfire

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

​BC Wildfire Service’s specialized attack crews worked through the night to tame an out-of-control wildfire that broke out in a populated area of Quadra Island Thursday afternoon.

Three first-response crews, a helicopter and two tree-fallers continue to fight the blaze east of Village Bay Lake near Bold Point Road and it has shrunk from four hectares to 1.5 hectares in size, BC Wildfire Service information officer Sam Bellion told Canada’s National Observer early Friday. 

The wildfire service’s latest alert at 11 a.m. said the fire is being held. It broke out in the island’s Village Lakes area, a popular summer destination with numerous recreational properties and homes. 

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Fire

Village Bay Lake Fire smaller and ‘Being Held’

The Village Bay Lake Fire, on Quadra Island,  is no longer considered ‘out of control.’ The size has shrank from 4 to 1.5 hectares in extent, and according to BC Wildfire Information Officer Sam Bellion, the fire is now ranked as ‘being held.’

“Last night, they did blanket it in retardent. Crews worked through the night to action the western side of the fire. This morning, when we saw that update to the size, they also observed just rank one low smoldering ground fire along the north and west flanks as they were patrolling this morning.  They’re going to be working some more on active pockets of that rank along the southern edge today and working towards that containment. So, it’s looking really good,” she said.  

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Six wildfires spark in Strathcona Region on Sunday

Editor’s note: Smoke from these fires later spread eastward to Campbell River, Quadra and Cortes Islands, affecting air quality.

By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On Saturday and Sunday, lightning struck throughout the Strathcona region causing six small wildfires to spark near Wolf River, Mount Con Ried, and Trio Creek.

“The majority of them are in upper elevation so there wasn’t a lot of fuel,” said Nick Donnelly, an information officer with the Coastal Fire Center, adding that these wildfires have no risk to the public or critical infrastructure. “They are still listed as out of control, but they are just in a monitor only stage because we’re not expecting them to grow further.”

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