Aug 26

BC Wildfire Updates: 

Weather Update: Temperatures are expected to be between 20-24C with minimum relative humidities around 40%. Winds will be shifting to come from north and east directions, but ultimately may be variable due to terrain. This change to warm conditions with light winds will bring the return of smoke, limiting visibility over the weekend. 

Downton Lake Wildfire: Consistent cooler temperatures and precipitation in the area have kept fire activity low. The fire is now estimated to be 8,450 hectares in size. In the southeast flank, crews will be working to secure the fire perimeter between Gun Lake and Road 40. Structure protection crews have remained on site monitoring for spot fires around properties and maintain sprinkler systems.  

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10:30pm

• A very tired crew. Three more structures protected.  All private pumps filled, gas cans on docks.  SP crews were running and testing pumps all day.  Bladders were full of water.

• Thank-you to the people that volunteered pumps and bought hoses and sprinklers from Rev-it-up for their neighbours - once again our community spirit is shining through.

• Left the lake at 7:30pm and the BCWF crew was still out there putting out spot fires.  They seem to be concentrating a lot of manpower to hit the section between Tyaughton Lake Rd and the Blue trail.  Helicopter was bucketing East of East Tyaughton Rd.

• Spot fires continue to burn 

• The weather was near perfect today though it did get relatively warm in the afternoon.

• Hoping to have no wind weather again tomorrow

• Received some questions about "back burns" or "prescribed burns" - here is a link to the International Association of Firefighters and Rescue - https://ctif.org/news/prevention-control-using-back-fire-combat-wildfire

• We didn't run pumps tonight, we did run some peoples pumps today, both for testing and when areas were particularly dry.

• While BCWF has been running their pumps on the West side, it's unclear whether they have been running/testing the private pumps.  Going to confirm whether they are or aren't tomorrow. 

• Lots of machines that are active doing guards and watering areas.

• Will post a bunch of pictures and videos.

• New Incident Commander took over today.  We're very appreciative of the one that is departing and hope they get a well deserved rest.

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1:00pm - Tyaughton 

• Two more places set up with a system on East Side, but we're now out of pumps.  If you are on the East side and didn't have a pump, we have let you know if we got a system up on your place.  If there is, it's someones "back-up" pump or a "water-pump" that is not really made to run the way we will be running these.  Would suggest you call Rev-it-up and get an appropriate pump for your property.  We would switch out the pumps and then you will have something more reliable then what is there now. (Please do not message me asking what type of pump, do a little research and ask Rev-it-up(Lillooet) they are great.  GB is helping us by picking up gear from there.  We are also short on sprinklers, not sure what Rev-it-up has but we're down to using some of garden sprinklers (some work quite well).  Also know that if the pump of the owner that is currently doing your system fails, we will obviously move their back-up pump back to their property.  BCWF wants to come do the East side of the lake but they do not have the assets and have had to triage to areas of greater risk and greater impact.

• BCWF SP has been over the other side of the lake, running pumps and testing systems.  This is great news.

• The fire guards they are building around the lake on both sides are significant.  Even from the video posted last night there are more and bigger - and they are still out there.

• Also saw a small BCWF crew in the forest along the Blue trail with fire axes etc that looked like they were about to attack some spot fires along there.

• The plan for those of us who are working the East side of the lake is to do a drill tonight and practice starting up the pumps in the dark like a real situation.  We wanted to run the pumps tonight anyway to keep the area wet.

• We are not allowed to touch forestry pumps but they are manning them, so will report if they also run theirs tonight (and of course they are pros so don't need to run drills)

• Sporadic light wind from South.

• Was a nice temperature all morning.  Its 19 now and looks to be warming up, sun is out.

• There are more and more firefighters showing up and helping out.  Their is a contingent from Mexico that has arrived.

• Everything is not perfect, but people are working hard trying to save our community and we owe them our thanks.

• Quick side story on that note:  One of the heavy equipment operators, a local resident, lost everything at Gun Lake - what did they do, showed up the next morning operating equipment at Gun Creek.  These are quality people.  From bottom to top.

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8:00am

• Pumps did not run the last three nights, the ground has been wet and not wind.  Quite likely we will run tonight.

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7:45am

​- Word is from Gold Bridge that it is clear and that there is hope for a lot of air support today.

- Visibility in the Tyaughton Valley is fairly good, but lots of smoke.

- No wind this morning.  And forecast shows very little for the rest of the day - amazing!

- Great news from BCWF - they are going to fill Gas Jugs for us, so we are coordinating with us.

- Everyone is working on the same team at the lake.

- We have about 5 places not protected on the East side, we are going to do two more today and then see how we are doing on scrounging for pumps.  Thanks to those outside the roadblocks that are trying to get us assets.

- Will report through the day on progress.

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