Aug 23:

Admin note:  You are not losing your mind if you think that the font and font size keeps changing - posters eyes are tired, need bigger and clearer fonts...   :)

10:30pm

·       Looks to be a quiet Night (knocking on wood).  Going to sign off for today.  Have a good sleep everyone and dream rain and low winds for the Bridge River Valley.  

·       There was an inquiry about air support today, and I wasn't able to confirm but I don't think we had any again, I know that at least until about 3pm when we asked it was visibility issues.

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8:40pm

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·       ​Just received a map with where a new fire guard is going.  Will put it in the map section shortly.

·       They did another guard - no map, starting at the 2km sign on Tyaughton road going up chasing next to the fire.

·       There was another crew working on the East Tyaughton Lake access road today.

·       Where last night there was walls of fire, there was very little evident today.  "Nothing Crazy.  The rain helped so much today."  Guard that is being built is right along the fire and everything behind it is burnt.

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7:30pm  - BC Wildfire Video (see video section below)

6:30pm  - BC Wildfire Update:​ Wildfire Information

Outlook:

·       Overnight, approximately 6-10mm of precipitation was received on the Casper Creek wildfire depending on elevation, and 18mm was received on the Downton Lake wildfire as of 9 a.m. Precipitation is expected to continue through to the afternoon with max temperatures of 16C and min. relative humidity of 85%. The southern part of the complex is expected to get minimal precipitation. Thursday looks to be warmer, drier and sunnier with an increase in smoke concentrations across the region. These warm and dry conditions are likely to persist through the weekend. 

Update Aug. 23:

·       Yesterday afternoon, the smoke cover retreated on the Downton Lake wildfire, increasing fire behaviour on the east flank above Carpenter Lake, and the northwest flank towards South Chilcotin Mountains Park. 

·       While the Downton Lake area has received close to 23 mm of precipitation since midnight, this weather system has also caused heavy, low hanging cloud cover over much of the fire. Aerial support remains available to respond as soon as conditions allow.

·       Through the evening and overnight, fire behaviour was observed to display Rank 3 and 4, meaning a vigorous surface fire with torching, crown fire, and moderate to high rates of spread.

·       Ground crews and structure protection personnel worked overnight, working in and around properties to limit hot spots, and engaging structure defense where needed through the night.

·       Ground crews have been reestablishing objectives today following last night’s increase in fire activity and growth. Primarily continuing to action hot spots and remove danger trees. BC Hydro remains on site supporting crews by maintaining safe work areas near powerlines.

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5:30pm 

·       Had a really good conversation with Kyle about his take of how the situation should be dealt with at the lake. For those of you who are unaware Kyle has significant firefighting experience and has a lot of certification.  

·       He likes our incident commander and feels like they are working hard with the assets that they have.

·       He agrees with the assessment of that commander that the lake is highly likely to be safe tonight.

·       In a perfect world they would have a team around the lake and at Gun putting out the spot fires but they have moved on mass to protect Gold Bridge.

·       Gun Creek Rd people who are full time residents for the most part are working hard to put out spot fires.

·       We will wait to hear from Tarn to see what he thinks should go on tonight and what he can execute.

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3:50pm 

·       The McKenzies are at it again and are out helping out, so we may get some more pictures.

·       Will also connect with them around plan for tonights pumps.

·       If forestry didn't fill the pumps which they indicated they were not going to do,  a plan needs to made to figure out what  pumps need to be filled.

·       The incident commander indicated that while the risk was low today for any fire activity at Tyaughton, the  greatest risk is the fire that is on the East side of Tyaughton.

·       For clarity the only pumps and systems on the East side are the ones owners set up.

·       Waiting for news on how far the guard got - they usually work to dark.

·       We don't have access to Ministry fuel but Sue managed to get a few hundred litres so we are set for the whole lake if need be and the McKenzies have the time and ability to fill.

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3:30pm 

·       It's still raining

·       And it's cold

·       No fire progression near Tyaughton West side

·       Other than traveling the same path as the 2009 fire towards five mile not entirely clear how active the fire is on East tyaughton.

·       East Tyaughton hill road is burnt - both sides this time.  Pictures will be added.

·       Spot fires everywhere the fire has been.

·       Gun Creek Rd crew working on spot fires.

·       Hydro workers are on Gun Creek Rd.

·       Kyle and Bob  have made it back to Pemberton Valley - A big thank-you to those two!

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1:30pm - Tyaughton Team

·       The Incident Commander (IC) has been incredibly accommodating to our team on-site on the ground.  Accommodating our changing personnel, our presence and briefings and giving us the unvarnished truth. Considering the operation she is running - that is pretty cool.

·       Bob and Kyle, out of respect for the IC and the many amazing personnel that they, and Tarn have worked with have determined that their presence is no longer a benefit to the BCWF but a hinderance as they are another worry for that team.  As a result the decision had been made that they will evacuate later this afternoon out of respect for the professionals doing their jobs.  Kyle has agreed to return when the situation allows and when he can be an asset.  Haven't communicated with Bob but he is always standing by at the ready as are so many amazing people on this lake.

·       So we will be back, but for now, they will depart.  A big thank-you to both.  We will report when they are safely over the Hurley.

·       John Anderson remains at the lake despite all efforts to have him leave.

·       We remain very lucky as the McKenzie's have literally had our backs this entire time, when roads were blocked, or manpower has not allowed it has been that family who have been doing everything superhumanly possible to keep us all safe.

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1:00pm - Tyaughton Update

·       Structural Protection Units are not going back into Tyaughton today.  Just going in to do recon and getting a new plan of attack.

·       The East side still has no sturctural protection with the exception of owner initiated ones.

·       There is still no plan to go in there as it has been deemed to great of a hazard for the SP team.

·       Unclear as to why the boat solution has not been accepted.  We are still advocating for this solution.

·       They have been working on a fire guard behind East side for 2-3 hours.  Work continues.  Have inquired for a map of the plan.

·       No one is working the West side today either, it is wet and muddy. In good shape.

·       As mentioned earlier the fire break is holding on that side of the lake.

·       More Pictures to follow

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12:30pm - GB Update:  Scott Holden

·       Update for Gold Bridge area fire preparedness 

·       The community as well as volunteers from Bralorne have been working very hard fire smarting homes in town

·       Lots of progress made 

·       The east guard is completed as much as we can do with in the limits of terrain, short section if needed would have to be hand fell and hand guarded.  

·       Upper guard is being put in now and should be done end of day.

·       Should have most of the machine work done today and maybe some tidy up tomorrow 

·       We did a sprinkler test on the gravity system for the sprinklers yesterday and it was a failure.

·       The old systems pipes are way to small in diameter to deliver enough volume to protect all the homes ( 4 inch main that branches to two 2 inch mains 

·       I did not think it would work but still had to try

·       SPU is on-site now and we are working closely with them and helping them with hoses and crossings etc., our homes and businesses are in their hands. 

·       We have a lot of volunteers to help them in any way they need.

·       They did get a jump start on the pumps in the rivers etc and laying line along the low guard we had in already. I’ll rest easy once all the protection is in place for the homes for sure. 

·       We did get rain last night

·       Started about 4 am till 10 am and a good solid soaking of rain.

·       This buys us a day or two of reprieve for sure 

·       So I’m confident we will be ahead of this if things go side ways . 

·       I would like to thank SPU for all their support so far, great bunch folks to work with and lots to learn from them too.

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10:35am

·       Machinery assets that were on standby are now being mobilized.  Area of work TBA.

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10:10am

·       New fireguard being started on the East Side of the lake between the fire and the structures.

o   Some notes on that:​

§  There was a fireguard put in there in 2009 so there may be an easy route for them to make quick work.​

§  Bob Hornal (rockstar) also knows some other routes that they can use the natural assets of the area, so he is sharing those.

·       Hearing only positive news about Gun Creek Rd structures but also hearing that it is incomplete because of visibility challenges and driveway blockages.

·       There is a bunch of photos and video that will be posted but prioritizing information updates.

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10:10am

·       Kyle and Bob back at fire camp, pictures  will follow.

·       John is still at lake, he has no interest in leaving

·       Kyle and Bob are going to IC with a recon report on area

·       Machinery now in and working

·       fireguard by ballfield held

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9:30am

·       Happy news, there are puddles on Tyaughton Lake Rd :)

·       The road becomes dry at Hornel Rd, that is how intense the heat was.

·       Machine operators on site.

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9:00am

·       The area (Tyaughton and Gun Creek Rd) has been deemed too dangerous right now for the BCWF ground personnel to re-enter, so waiting for them to reassess and hopefully it becomes safe for them soon.

·       Machines are also on standby. 

·       BCWF making a new plan for fireguard positioning

·       More pictures will be posted soon.

·       GB Town meeting taking place now

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8:30am

·       The fire is still below 10 mile corner 

·       looks like it’s following the path of the 2009 fire from tyaughton lake rd to the east

·       Road is passable now from Tyaughton to Gun Creek Rd.

·       Gun Creek Rd is passable at least to Don and Marys - who's place is good.

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8:15am

·       All structures on lake are good.  More details coming

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7:15am

·       Fire Camp meeting start has been delayed

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7:00am

·       Kyle is at the Fire Camp Command Meeting.  Update will follow at end of meeting.

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6:45am

·       Does not look like the fire made it into the canopy at least in parts of Gun Creek Rd - this is good news as Structural protection becomes more effective.

·       The rain has been characterized as "Pouring" in Bralorne.

·       Tarn is on the way to the lake to see how Tyaughton faired overnight

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6:15am

·       Waiting on latest from Tyaughton 

·       There is power (solar) mid-lake East side.

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6:00am

·       Gun Creek Crew still okay

·       It is still raining.

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​2:10am

·       Report from Stu with the Gun Creek Crew

·       They are good.

·       He did a recon to lake - Lake still okay

·       Fire is still blocking the road at 10 mile corner.

·       Still raining

·       Fire is creating its own wind

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1.30am

·       Tyaughton Lake is still okay!!!!

·       Tarn went down to lake to have a look and make sure all was okay.  No fire on the lake, pumps humming in the background.  All is well so far.

·       Been raining for a couple hours at the lake.

·       Fire is below 10 mile corner and Gun Creek Rd.  Road is unpassable

·       Picture of road and video of lake posted in a couple moments.

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1.00am

·       Archers, Menhenicks, Stu and the rest of locals are okay, though apparently hungry...  

·       The fire is a bit calmer than the picture they sent (will post below, should have a caution on it: "professional driver, closed course" - we know that crew is legends, so we'd like them to come out....)

·       Winds have shifted to the North East.