The Shovel Lake fire, estimated at 68,375 hectares, remained very active yesterday, though there was no significant growth to the perimeter, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service website.
Crews and heavy equipment continued to work along the south side of the wildfire in order to reinforce and continue building the guard line that is widening the PNG pipeline path from Stern Lake to go towards Ormond Lake. This aims to act as a fuel free line to contain the wildfire from spreading towards the south and to protect values on the north shore of Fraser Lake. Equipment worked to widen this guard north of the pipeline. Air tankers and skimmers were assisting the equipment in establishing this guard yesterday, but were not able to be utilized today due to thick smoke over the fire. The smoke is also hindering the ability to ascertain an accurate perimeter.
Crews also conducted hand ignitions to remove fuel between guards and the fire inside the guard. Despite a forecast that called for strong winds, the winds remained light yesterday. However, the fire remained active in most areas, including around Haney Lake and Stern Lake. On the east side, the fire is currently hung up in older cutblocks. Heavy equipment is working in the Sutherland FSR and Barlow FSR areas to build guard lines.
Structural protection specialists are engaged with structural firefighters and equipment from the Office of the Fire Commissioner in order to assess and protect structures as needed on the north shore of Fraser Lake, Nadleh Whut’en and out to the Echo Lake and Dog Creek areas. The structural crews are running day and night shifts, with engine tender task forces working tonight.
It should be noted that fire perimeters are updated as visibility allows due to thick smoke, so changes in size are not always indicative of immediate growth or fire behaviour.
Evacuation Order is in effect.
An Evacuation Order and Alert was expanded at 20:00 hrs August 15, 2018 and remains in effect for this wildfire by the Bulkley-Nechako Regional District. For more information visit: https://www.rdbn.bc.ca/
BC Wildfire Service continues to implement an Area Order Restriction to protect public safety due to the wildfire’s rate of spread and to avoid interference with fire suppression efforts. The area restriction will remain in place until noon on Sept. 15, 2018, or until the order is rescinded. The area restriction order applies to all Crown land outlined on the map (including recreational campgrounds) that is available online at: http://ow.ly/X8Mr30lbPR9
BC Wildfire Service continues to implement an Area Order Restriction to protect public safety due to the wildfire’s rate of spread and to avoid interference with fire suppression efforts. The area restriction will remain in place until noon on Sept. 15, 2018, or until the order is rescinded. The area restriction order applies to all Crown land outlined on the map (including recreational campgrounds) that is available online at: http://ow.ly/X8Mr30lbPR9
Closures: The Trout Lake FSR is CLOSED due to fire activity. The Sutherland Road is closed from the 15 km mark.
