Aug 31

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BC Wildfire Update Aug 31, 7:45pm 

Weather

The Downton Lake wildfire continues to receive precipitation, which is forecast to continue through Thursday night. Conditions remain damp and temperatures, cool. Fire activity is minimal. 

Fire Update

On Wednesday evening, the BC Wildfire Service removed personnel from the fire camp located near Goldbridge housing those working on the Downton Lake wildfire (K71649).  This was required to ensure the safety of personnel following persistent bear activity within and around the camp. 

Approximately 160 personnel travelled to Lillooet where they are presently hosted at T’it’q’et First Nation and Lillooet municipality facilities. The BC Wildfire Service is deeply grateful to its partners, including the T’it’q’et First Nation, Lillooet municipality and the Lillooet Tribal Council, for generously sharing facilities, expertise and insight, and extending a warm welcome to all fire suppression personnel in the area. 

Plans are underway to safely reposition all personnel to an appropriate location to continue working toward securing containment on the Downton Lake wildfire. Conservation officers are assessing and advising. Some firefighters are returning to site Thursday to maintain progress on priority objectives and provide ongoing monitoring and presence on the fire. Further updates will be provided as they are available.  

Evacuation Orders and Alerts

The Evacuation Order issued by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District has been partially rescinded to an Evacuation Alert for the Bralorne area. An Evacuation Order remains in effect for all other areas. Full details can be found on the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District website, which also offers guidance for those returning home after a wildfire.

BC Wildfire Update Aug 31, 11:30am:

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On Thursday, August 31, expect the rain that started overnight to continue for part of the day with a new low-pressure system moving through the Coastal Range. Cloudy and 5 to 10 mm of precipitation is possible by end of day. Amounts will be highest at elevation while valley bottom sites will see the least amounts. Possibility of thundershowers later in the day with the potential for higher localized precipitation as a result. After which, skies will gradually clear followed by moderate northerly winds. Fog expected early in the day Friday.

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Situation Update

On Wednesday evening, the BC Wildfire Service removed personnel from the fire camp located near Goldbridge housing those working on the Downton Lake wildfire (K71649). This was required to ensure the safety of personnel following persistent bear activity within and around the camp.

Approximately 160 personnel travelled to Lillooet where they are presently hosted at T’it’q’et First Nation and Lillooet municipality facilities.

Plans are underway to safely return personnel to an appropriate location to continue working toward objectives on the Downton Lake wildfire. Conservation officers are assessing and advising. Further updates will be provided as they are available.

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Thank you to our partners!

The BC Wildfire Service is deeply grateful to its partners, including the T’it’q’et First Nation, Lillooet municipality and the Lillooet Tribal Council, for generously sharing their facilities, expertise and insight, and extending a warm welcome to all fire suppression personnel in the area.

10:45am Doug Bonde update:

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• The Gun Creek Fire Camp on Rd 40 was evacuated to Lillooet.  There were a number of problem bears in the camp.  Machine operators still working but no ground crews.  Waiting on a further update.

EOC Toll-free Information Line available to public 

As of Wednesday, August 30, 2023, the SLRD Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) activated an Information Line for residents affected by wildfire.  

Details: 

Toll-free: 1-888-213-0780 

Hours: Seven days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PST 

The SLRD continues to work closely with the BC Wildfire Service, First Nations, RCMP, neighbouring communities, and various partner agencies to gather and share information where possible. 

If EOC staff cannot answer a question, they will ask the caller for contact information and follow up in an email or return call. Contact details collected are confidential and protected by FOIPPA. 

EOC staff will not answer questions specific to wildfire-related structure loss. Residents whose property has been impacted will be contacted individually by SLRD staff. 

Current EOC information is available at:  www.SLRD.bc.ca/EOC

10:15am

• Rained most of the night and there are puddles on Tyaughton Rd.  It is wet here!

• East Tyaughton Rd and Blue Trail still has hot spots with smoke coming from the ground but didn't see any open flames this morning.

• BCWF equipment is set up with bladders, pumps and hoses in the areas with hotspots but didn't see any personnel this morning at 9am.

• No machine activity seen, though several pieces of equipment are parked on guards and at Hornal Corner.

• People are very hopeful around the weather and conditions but are waiting to hear official information that Doug will get from his contacts at fire camp.

• Will update later today and will continue to adds some videos of area.

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Aug 30

Wildfire Information

Last updated Aug. 30 at 11:35 a.m. 

Weather:

The Downton Lake wildfire took variable amounts of precipitation Tuesday. Wednesday is expected to bring cloudy skies with isolated showers, damp conditions and maximum temperatures of 20 C. Skies may clear in the afternoon and foggy patches are forecast to develop overnight. Precipitation, cool temperatures and damp conditions are anticipated to continue Thursday and into Friday.  

Fire Update

Crews and heavy equipment continue firefighting along the West Tyaughton guard to secure the fire’s edge, as well as building contingency lines east of Tyaughton and to the south of the fire above Carpenter Lake Road.

On the west flank, crews are building machine guard southward along Saddle Road to connect to Highway 40, conducting direct attacks on the north edge of the fire and establishing contingency lines. Firefighters are conducting direct attacks northeast of Lakeview Road to secure the fire edge and protect structures in the area. 

Incoming crews will contribute significantly to achieving objectives during the downturn in weather this week. 

Structure protection personnel continue maintaining sprinkler systems in the Pearson drainage and south of Gun Creek Road. 

Firefighters and structure protection personnel are working overnight to monitor and patrol the fire edge.

Evacuation Orders and Alerts

The Evacuation Orders issued by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District remain in effect.

1:45pm

• Sun has poked out from behind the clouds today, but the ground is still wet from the last couple days rain.

• Doug B arrived on-site yesterday and jumped right in helping the crew tweak one of the systems that was set up with the new pump and gear the owner sent to the lake.

• Some of the crew have gone to town to get gas for pumps, will get an update from them later as to what the fire looks like on Road 40.

• That crew will look to see if the pumps people have ordered are delivered to town.

• Overall things are looking good, the Fall weather seems to have arrived, the cold days and nights are good for the combat against the fire.

• There are a lot of machines and crews working on the fire near Tyaughton - the one on the east road.

• Posting some videos taken this morning from Blue Trail and East Tyaughton from Blue Trail North

• Slight wind from the South

• Pumps are all fuelled and ready to go

2:15pm

• Wind is picking up so the crew is gathered at the lake keeping watch for smoke, particularly from the East and South.