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Blackwater River Fire grows; planned burn scheduled for Narcosli Creek

The Blackwater River fire has increased in size by more than 2,000 hectares
13225318_web1_copy_Blackwater-River-fire---Aug.-12-2018-1-copy
The Blackwater River Fire seen from a helicopter Aug. 12, 2018. Cariboo Regional District/Todd Conway photos

Wildfire crews on the Narcosli Creek Fire southwest of Quesnel will be conducting a major burn operation today (Aug. 21), weather permitting on the south and southeast areas of the fire, says the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).

The operation will remove green fuels, says the latest update.

“This area continues to be challenging in our fire suppression efforts and by removing these available fuels, this will help prevent further spread of this wildfire… There is a guard surrounding the burn area,” reads the BCWS website.

The fire information officers say that smoke will be very visible in Quesnel due to the planned burn.

The Narcosli Creek Fire remains estimated at 3,415 hectares and 90 per cent guarded and 50 per cent contained. There are 74 firefighters and 22 pieces of heavy equipment on site, along with 11 helicopters which are shared between all four Baezaeko Complex Wildfires of Note.

The Blackwater River Fire is now 6,619.9 hectares, growing 2,000 hectares since yesterday, when it was tracked at 4,519 hectares. It is 75 per cent guarded and zero per cent contained.

Yesterday the BCWS reported the fire had jumped the Nazko River. A successful burn operation was conducted to clean up available fuels in the area to help prevent further spread.

Crews are continuing to build guard to the Blackwater River. They are also working to mop-up and establish a fuel free (no available green fuels the wildfire can consume) along the northwest corner. Crews are mopping-up and are planning hand ignitions on the east flank. There was a night shift patrolling this wildfire.

There are 28 firefighters and 11 pieces of heavy equipment on site.

The North Baezaeko Fire remains at 4,650 hectares today and zero per cent contained.

Crews continue to build guard along the northeast flank. They will also be mopping-up the excursions in the southwest. If conditions permit, crews will continue with hand ignitions to the guard on the south flank. This is when the crews are burning small green areas of available fuels to reinforce the guard, reads the BCWS website.

The change in the North Baezaeko Fire’s size reported yesterday, from 4,000 hectares to 4,650, was due to more accurate mapping to include the section of this wildfire that is now within the boundaries of the Kluskoil Lake Park (north flank of the wildfire), explains the BCWS.

The fire has 50 firefighters and 13 pieces of heavy equipment on site, along with the 11 shared helicopters.

The Shag Creek Fire, in the northwestern corner of the Cariboo Regional District, has increased in size from 9,312 hectares yesterday to 10,200 hectares. The fire remains zero per cent contained. So far the fire is still being monitored by air with no resources on the ground.

Evacuation alerts and orders remain in effect for all four Baezaeko Complex Fires.

A community meeting is planned for those interested in finding out more about the Baezaeko Complex fires. It will take place Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. at the Nazko Valley Community Centre.

READ MORE: BC Wildfire Service to host community meeting on Baezaeko Complex

There are a total of 11 active wildfires burning in the Quesnel Fire Zone. There are two fires Being Held, two fires Under Control and seven fires in Out of Control status.

The Yuzkli Lake fire is south of Big Valley Creek and remains estimated at 32.5 hectares. There are no communities or structures threatened at this time.

The fire west of Mustang Lakes is estimated at 123.5 hectares. There are six ground personnel on site, says the BCWS, after a plan of action was developed earlier this week.

The Pantage Creek fire, discovered Sunday, is now estimated at four hectares. This wildfire is now in Being Held status, according to the BCWS. The fire is northwest of Quesnel, along the border of the Cariboo Fire Centre and the Prince George Fire Centre.

And the Chutanli Lake Fire, which began in the Prince George Fire Centre, is now extending west into the Cariboo Fire Centre, at the Cariboo’s northernmost point. This fire remains estimated at 13,371 hectares and out of control. It is located 23 kilometres west of Titetown and one or two kilometres west of Batnuni.

There are 42 firefighters and 20 pieces of heavy equipment on the fire. An evacuation alert and order is in effect for this fire.

READ MORE: Tweedsmuir Park wildfires grow to encompass more than 200,000 hectares



editor@quesnelobserver.com

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