The BC Wildfire Service has offered no updates on the sizes of the Wildfires of Note in the Baezaeko Complex.
Narcosli Creek remains at 4,517 hectares, Blackwater River at 8,365 hectares, North Baezaeko at 11,500 hectares and Shag Creek at 12,322 hectares, as reported yesterday (Aug. 27).
The Narcosli Creek Fire remains 100 per cent guarded and 75 per cent contained, but the fire is now considered Being Held.
“This indicates that (with the resources currently committed to the fire) that sufficient suppression action has been taken that the fire is not likely to spread beyond existing or predetermined boundaries under the prevailing and forecasted conditions,” reads the latest BCWS update.
Crews will be monitoring and patrolling this wildfire. They will be mopping up along the fire edge in the northeast corner, mid-way down the western flank, and 50 feet off the fire edge in the south from the 10F road to the Deserters South Road.
Specialists are conducting danger tree assessments and falling prior to crews commencing mop up.
A scan is scheduled for this evening for a portion of the east flank, says BCWS.
There remain 73 firefighters and 11 pieces of heavy equipment (down from 20 yesterday) on the fire, with 10 helicopters shared between the four Baezaeko Complex fires.
The Blackwater River Fire is still 100 per cent guarded and 60 per cent contained, as reported yesterday.
The BCWS says if conditions permit, there are burn operations planned for the Blackwater River wildfire located west of the Nazko Road. This burn is planned for an area of approximately 200 hectares located between the southwest flank of the Blackwater River wildfire and the Nazko River. The planned burning operations are expected to be conducted this afternoon between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
“As a precautionary measure structure protection specialists will be in the area. If this planned burn goes ahead, smoke will be highly visible from Nazko and surrounding areas. This fire suppression tactic is necessary to contain this area which is one consideration for downgrading the evacuation order to an alert for the Nazko area,” says the BCWS website.
There are currently 45 firefighters on site with 15 pieces of heavy equipment.
The North Baezaeko Fire is still 40 per cent guarded and 15 per cent contained, as reported yesterday.
Bucketing attacks are being executed today, says the BCWS, helping ground crews complete a fire guard south of the wildfire on the 66A Road, tying into the 2017 Plateau wildfire up to the Baezaeko River. Heavy equipment will continue widening the 6700 Road south of wildfire to the Blackwater River. They will also work to complete the machine guard on the 6800 Road. Structure protection assets have been installed on the cabin on Teepee Lake, says BCWS.
There are 55 firefighters (down from 81 yesterday) and 16 pieces of heavy equipment on the ground.
The Shag Creek Fire, the largest of the four in the Baezaeko Complex, remains zero per cent contained with no resources on the ground. The fire is being monitored by air when possible, says BCWS.
The Chutanli Lake Fire, located 11 kilometres northeast of Tatelkuz Lake, is still estimated at 19,857 hectares.
The fire started in the Prince George Fire Centre but has crossed the border into the Cariboo. BCWS has offered no additional updates on this fire today.
There are 48 firefighters (down from 70 yesterday) and 25 pieces of heavy equipment on site.
Quesnel Fire Zone
There are nine active wildfires burning in this zone. Two are Being Held, one is Under Control and seven fires are in Out of Control status.
The Yuzkli Lake fire is south of Big Valley Creek and is still estimated at 100 hectares. Heavy equipment established guard in areas that were accessible. This fire is being closely monitored by the BC Wildfire Service.
READ MORE: Update on wildfires in the Cariboo, Aug. 28
editor@quesnelobserver.com
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