Staff at Clearwater Fire Zone had a relatively quiet week last week, according to forest protection officer Jim Jones – but it wasn’t entirely restful.
A 20-person unit crew from Princeton that was combating a 20 hectare fire east of Murtle Lake was transferred to Oliver on Tuesday. The fire is well contained but is being patrolled by Initial Attack crews from Clearwater.
Multiple fires near the Azure River east of Azure Lake in Wells Gray Park are being left to burn themselves out.
One exception was a fire on the north side of Azure Lake that was actioned by a rappel crew on Wednesday. The crew then left to fight a fire on the east side of Murtle Lake on Thursday.
Also on Thursday, people who were doing an aerial silviculture survey for the forest district spotted a fire in the Thunder River drainage northwest of Blue River.
Because of the extremely steep terrain and lack of timber values, the fire is being left to burn itself out.
A Blackpool resident who uses a wood heater for his house caused a false alarm when the heater created a cloud of smoke as it warmed up.
Clearwater Fire Zone had an extra three-person Initial Attack crew from Telkwa – but only until last Wednesday.
As of Friday, five of the six people in the two IA crews normally assigned to Clearwater will be going back to university. Personnel will be found to make up the reduction, Jones said.
The campfire ban across the Kamloops Fire Center is still in place. Conservation officers and others are out patrolling the ban.
The fire hazard at Coldscaur Lake and other nearby lakes was extreme and continues to be high, Jones said.