Sept 2

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8:30pm

• It's cooling off rapidly at lake, no winds, some smoke in the air

• did a trip to GB today, the SP team took out pumps yesterday and apparently will have all structural protection out by end of day tomorrow.

• Lots of crews at Tyaughton and Gun Creek area, moping up hot spots.  Saw the Iverson crew again today, they were were working hard being deployed to trouble areas.

• Were warned by the BCWF personnel that Grizzly's have been seen frequently around Tyaughton. area, they feel that the fire has displaced them from their normal territory.

• The ground was still wet at 3pm when we were going to run pumps so we have pushed it until 10am tomorrow.

• Will be keeping an eye for winds but all looks well tonight

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10:15am

• We have seen the RCMP around in the last couple days, very friendly, seem to just be keeping an eye on absentee owners property, which is great.  The Tyaughton team is also doing the same thing, we know where there should be action and where there shouldn't.  Have only seen officials and people that belong.

• BCWF continues to give us some gas, and many lake owners have let us know where they have stashes so we are currently in good shape as we don't expect to be running the pumps nearly as much as we have in the last couple weeks.

• Until two days ago it was the Pemberton SP team that was working Tyaughton, it's now a group from the island.  Great people.

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​10:00am

• No wind

• Cool overnight and cool this morning but blue sky, so expect it will warm up today

• Not much smoke

• Water tenders have been getting ready for BCWF Crew.  

• Quite a big crew of Firefighters designated for Tyaughton area this morning including a big contingent from Mexico.

• They appear to be working on the spot fires between the Blue trail and Tyaughton Rd, including up to the tower.  They are also set up to work the East Tyaughton Rd Spot fires - where we had trouble yesterday.

• Jeff, Doug and Sue will run owner pumps this afternoon for an hour and check all the systems.  Been a few days since the SP team had run pumps on West side so expect they will test them today or tomorrow.

• West side has no threat level from what we have heard from BCWF, but the contractors are still working on guards on that side of lake.

• The South end of the lake, (particularly the South East), and the East side (South end is closest but fire has traveled north for some distance) are where the active hot spots are, and where the BCWF seems to be concentrating their efforts currently in our area.

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BC Wildfire Information, Sept 2nd 9:16am

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Weather

The high pressure system bringing sunny skies, warmer temperatures and drier conditions continues throughout Saturday and overnight. Sunday’s forecast calls for an incoming cold front, which should result in increased cloud, cooler temperatures and erratic, gusting winds. 

Fire Update 

Warmer temperatures with moderate winds are expected to continue throughout Saturday and may result in more visible, including increased smoke. This activity is occurring within the perimeter of the fire as small pockets of unburnt forest fuel are consumed. “Fuel-finding” is expected in areas where a wildfire has passed through when weather conditions shift from cool and damp to warmer and windier, like in the case of the Downton Lake fire.  Patrols and monitoring are ongoing and, as of Saturday morning, observed fire behaviour has not been cause for concern. Firefighters, heavy equipment, aircraft and structure protection personnel and equipment are on site and prepared to respond as required to any increased fire activity. 

Structure protection personnel will spend Saturday monitoring and patrolling the east side of Gun Lake, Tyaughton and Gold Bridge, where they will extinguish hotspots around structures, install sprinklers and other equipment if required, and respond to any threats to properties, structures and other values as needed. They may also begin demobilizing equipment from structures where they’re confident it is no longer required. 

As of Saturday morning, no properties, structures or other values were threatened and observed fire activity was not cause for concern. Infrared scans are being conducted to identify heat around the perimeter of the fire, particularly in priority areas where properties, structures and communities are close by. These scan results will aid crews as they search out hotspots and extinguish them. 

There are 72 firefighters working on the fireline Saturday. On the west side, crews are patrolling the Stafford Lake Road area to search out and extinguish any areas of heat. Firefighting gear will be gradually demobilized once the area is confirmed to be secure. Firefighters are also working in the Lakeview Road area, pushing northeast to attack and extinguish any fire activity. 

On the east side of the fire, crews are continuing the work underway Friday and earlier, pushing along the north flank using direct attacks and mopping up. Firefighters are also beginning mop up in the Pearson Creek area east of Tyaughton. 

Mopping up is the process of locating and extinguishing pockets of burning material near control lines so the fire won’t later flare up along guards. Mop up often involves falling trees, cooling ashpits, digging out smouldering fuels, among other tasks. Mopping up large perimeters, such as on the Downton Lake wildfire, is a long, methodical—and vital—process to secure the fire perimeter against further spread. 

Heavy equipment is available on the Downton Lake wildfire to support the crews’ work and respond as needed, while also finishing contingency lines of the east and south of the fire to further minimize the risk of the fire growing in those directions. 

There are nine helicopters assigned to firefighting activities on Saturday, with another five supporting monitoring, patrols and crew movements. 

Fire camp is being moved to a new location near Jones Creek. It is expected to be fully operational and ready to house firefighting personnel Saturday night.