In mid-afteroon on Friday, Aug. 14, there was a lightning strike near Birch Island Lost Creek Road in a grove of trees.
The strike bordered an irrigated green hay field on Aveley Ranch, about a half km west of June Moilliet's home.
Moilliet and Ted Richardson discovered the fire at 4 p.m. and Richardson rushed home for shovels. Moilliet phoned for the fire department. Someone at Canfor spotted the fire from the mill across the North Thompson River and phoned John Stone. The Stone family, Richardson, and Joseph and Seth Moilliet all arrived at the scene at the same time.
Everyone started digging a fireguard around the flames. Joseph brought a water can and started to douse the flames. The flames were candling a good 30 feet up the trees.
Vavenby Volunteer Fire Department arrived shortly after being contacted. They had the fire out within an hour of arriving. When it was out a couple of trees had to be cut down and then soaked with water. The fire department stayed until they felt it was safe to leave, about another half hour.
June Moilliet feels that Neil McRae and Phillip Weber, drivers for the fire department response team, were the heroes of the day. They got there fast to nip the fire in the bud, preventing a wild fire.
She also says, " It was a blessing that it was near the side of the road, so the department had access."