By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
UPDATES
July 22, 10 a.m. – The 3,109 hectare wildfire is now considered “Held” (a wildfire that is projected, based on fuel and weather conditions and resource availability, to remain within the current perimeter, control line or boundary).
ORIGINAL
Cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity have helped BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) crews make some gains on the the “Out of Control” Placer Creek Wildfire between Eastgate and Cathedral Provincial Park. The fire has been burning since July 12 and has reached 3,109 hectares in size.
In an update July 21 morning the BCWS said “Containment of the Placer Creek wildfire continues to improve thanks to the suppression efforts of ground crews, heavy equipment and helicopters. These efforts have been helped by cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity.”
It added that fire activity in recent days has been generally Rank 1 (smouldering surface fire) and 2 (low vigour surface fire), with small pockets of Rank 3 (moderately vigorous surface fire).
“Helicopters are supporting ground crews, bucketing the more active areas of the fire perimeter and facilitating direct attack by wildland firefighters,” it said.
Placer Creek Wildfire Map July 20.
BC Wildfire Service map
Currently there is an Incident Management Team assigned to the fire and 141 wildland firefighters, eight helicopters and 10 pieces of heavy equipment are responding to the fire.
Apart from rain on July 20 which saw about 1 to 1.5 mm of rain fall on the fire, there’s been a persistent lack of precipitation in the Placer Creek area over the past month.
Another 3 to 8mm of precipitation is forecast for the Placer Creek area on Monday (July 21) and temperatures will continue to drop, reaching only up to 15°C Monday afternoon and with the relative humidity increasing to 70 per cent. Winds will be light and coming from the north at 5-10km/h which means fire activity will be lower again today, the BCWS said.
The BCWS said today’s operational objectives will build on the successes of the past week, “with wildfire crews continuing to secure existing control and containment lines on the western and northern flanks. Water delivery systems are in place, and crews are progressing with mopping up the fire’s edge deeper into the black.”
July 20 – Morning fire behaviour Placer Creek.
BC Wildfire Service photo
Danger tree fallers are working with ground crews to assess and fall fire-impacted timber, securing a safe working environment for ground crews and operators.
It noted that weather conditions allowing, ground crews may continue to use small-scale hand ignitions on western and northern flanks as well as the northeastern finger of the fire.
“These small-scale hand ignitions have been highly successful in removing areas of unburned fuels lying between the free-burning edge of the fire and the guard. These operations allow us to bring the fire down to the guard, creating a safe and more accessible working environment for crews and heavy equipment.”
On the western flank of the fire, crews and heavy equipment are advancing further south along the Bobcat FSR, securing the control line and mopping up, it said.
Placer Creek Wildfire on July 19, 8 a.m.
BC Wildfire Service photo
“Operations along the northern flank continue and are pushing east, where heavy equipment is completing contingency and containment lines. Ground crews are mopping up along the northern flank. Further to the east, wildfire personnel are actioning areas of heat in the higher country on the eastern side of Placer Mountain.”
Helicopters are supporting ground crews, the BCWS adds, “bucketing the more active areas of the fire perimeter and facilitating direct attack by wildland firefighters.”
Safety of responders and the protection of communities, properties and Highway 3 remain top priorities, it added.
“Smoke will continue to be visible from Hwy 3 and nearby communities as the fire reaches areas of unburned fuels in remote areas of the fire and when winds, fuels and slope align.”
EARLIER STORIES
July 21 – Weather cuts some slack for firefighters at Placer Creek
July 15 – Placer Creek Wildfire at 2,600 ha gets additional resources
