Currently, five of the active fires are considered of note: the Flood Falls Trail and Heather Lake fires in the Coastal Fire Center. the Fry Creek fire in the southeast fire center. and the Battleship Mountain and Bearhole Lake fires in the Prince George Fire Center. An air quality alert has been issued for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley due to high concentrations of fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke in BC and the United States.
Evacuation order for Laidlaw, B.C
On Sunday, the Fraser Valley Regional District issued an evacuation order for a handful of properties in Laidlaw due to the nearby Flood Falls Trail fire. Laidlaw is a small, unincorporated hamlet along Hwy 1, west of Hope. Four properties on the south side of the freeway were ordered to be evacuated. “Due to warm, dry conditions and gusty winds, there is an increase in fire behavior causing high fire danger,” according to a news release from the district. The Flood Falls Trail fire has now grown to 4.58 square kilometers and has prompted the Hope District and Fraser Valley Regional District to issue an evacuation warning. Residents should gather all necessary items, including medications and important documents, fill their vehicles’ gas tanks, organize possible accommodations and implement a plan for the safe movement of animals, the district said in a news release. . Residents can reduce the risk of fire around their homes by moving firewood away from their home. clearing debris from their roofs. keeping the grass length under 10 cm. removal of flammable appliances such as barbecues; and clearing leaves from under decks, balconies and patios, the release said.
Evacuation order for Hudson’s Hope, B.C
An evacuation order was issued Saturday for the township of Hudson Hope, located southwest of Fort St. John in the Irini region. The Battleship Mountain fire, which has burned 242 square kilometers, is burning out of control about 50 kilometers west of the community of about 850 people. “We’re trying to get as many people out of the area as possible,” said Mayor Dave Heiberg. “Fire is very aggressive. It doesn’t want to be tamed.” The Battleship Mountain fire is burning 50 kilometers west of Hudson’s Hope, B.C. (BC Wildfire Service) The Peace River Regional District also issued evacuation orders for properties outside of Hudson’s Hope, in electoral areas B and E. A reception center was opened in Ft. St. John and, on social media, residents in nearby communities have offered support, shelter and space to store animals. More than 65 firefighters, 12 helicopters and 16 pieces of heavy equipment are battling the blaze, which was first discovered on August 30. BC Wildfire Information Officer Shannon Street says the Battleship Mountain fire has seen significant growth in the past 48 hours. “There’s no real end to the rainfall in the forecast, so we expect to continue this growth,” he said, adding that it’s been a very dry summer and recent temperatures have been above average for the season. “During the day, we don’t have those cooler September temperatures that we would normally have.” He says crews are busy installing sprinklers to protect structures like the WAC Bennett Dam, as well as the community of Hudson’s Hope.
Evacuation notices remain for Eastgate
The small community of Eastgate, near Manning Provincial Park in southern B.C., is still on evacuation alert because of the Heather Lake fire, which is burning about five kilometers south of the Manning Park resort. “An evacuation warning has been issued to prepare you to evacuate your premises or property if deemed necessary,” said Sean Vaisler, director of emergency operations for the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District. The blaze has now grown to 86.63 square kilometers and is being battled by both Canadian and US fire services as it has spread across international borders. The Heather Lake fire prompted evacuation notices for Eastgate, BC, and parts of Manning Provincial Park in southern BC. (BC Wildfire Service)
Warning for smoky skies
Across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and greater Victoria, skies have turned gray due to wildfire smoke. A fire burning at a wood recycling facility in Vancouver is also contributing to poor air quality in several municipalities, including Burnaby, Richmond, New Westminster, Surrey and Coquitlam, the Metro Vancouver agency says. It has issued an air quality advisory, warning of high concentrations of fine particles. It says poor air quality is expected to persist through the weekend. Skies turned a mixture of orange and gray in Victoria on Saturday as wildfire smoke from across the B.C. covered the southern coast. (Georgie Smyth/CBC News) Metro Vancouver says fine particles refer to solid or liquid droplets that can easily penetrate indoors due to their small size. It advises people to postpone or reduce physical activity outdoors, especially if breathing feels uncomfortable, including children and pregnant women, and for people with underlying conditions such as lung disease, asthma and diabetes. Metro Vancouver says air conditioning can provide some relief from pollution, and public buildings like libraries can serve as shelters in some communities.
