Provincial Fire Update

Here's where the B.C. Forest Service fire-fighters are at on the major fires burning around the province.

Town Creek Fire (Lillooet Fire # 99)
• 45% contained, good progress on the north and south flank
• 1500 hectares
• 2700 people on evacuation alert
• air tankers used
• 14 helicopters
• 27 heavy equipment
• 200 fire-fighters
• The fire is 3 km from town.

Copper River Fire (Terrace Fire # 68)
• 30% contained, very good progress on west flank, fire guard in place
• Crews are using bulldozers re-opened an old logging road to allow water trucks in.
• The fire is being heavily hit with retardants.
• Helicopters now able to bucket and saturate the flank.
• 20 hectares
• 375 people on evacuation alert (125 homes)
• 4 helicopters in use
• 29 fire-fighters with more crews arriving today
• Subdivision is 6 km outside of town

Kenny Dam Fire (Vanderhoof Fire # 152)
• 3,000 hectares
• Fire is burning in a pine beetle infestation area
• 177 personnel including a unit crew from Saskatchewan
• 32 pieces of heavy equipment
• 6 helicopters
• 8 km north of dam, 65 km southwest of Vanderhoof
• Logging camp evacuated along with one home
• Fire did not grow overnight


NEW FIRES
Seaton Lake Fire (Liltooet Fire #112)
• Estimated size is 15 hectares
• Approximately 6 km west of Lillooet
• Demonstrating Rank 4 behaviour spreading in a Southeast direction
• Aggressive air operations including 5 tankers, 3 Convair 580's, 2 Firecats are being used.
• The fire's cause is under investigation.


FIRE STATISTICS
There are 260 fires burning in the province. In comparison, on this date last year, there were 101 fires burning. Many of these fires have been the result of lightning strikes, although human-caused fires continue to be a problem. As of midnight there were 42 new fires.

This year to date, last year to date:
260 fires burning, 101 fires burning
6,200 ha burned, 3,400 ha burned
£9.8 million, $6.8 million
638 fires to date, 409 fires to date

The Forest service is asking the public to use extreme caution when traveling or camping in forested areas. All signs of smoke should be reported to 1-800-663-5555 or 5555 on most cellular phones.