Members of the Amos family, who live on Spartan Street in Oliver, didn’t have much time to pack their belongings after fire broke out in their neighbourhood Friday evening. (Lyonel Doherty photo)
The Amos family on Spartan Street in Oliver once again took up battle stations this past Saturday afternoon when a flare-up started advancing towards their home.
Two sisters from the Amos family boldly climbed the mountain with a garden hose to stop the spread until firefighters took over.
Friends were even helping them load a vehicle with personal belongings in case the fire grew larger.
This was just one of the countless moments of stress that residents experienced during the Wilson Mountain fire that quickly started and went out of control Friday near Oliver.
“It was extremely scary, the flames were close by,” said Marj Doering, Saturday morning outside the evacuation centre set up by those affected by the fires at the Oliver Community Centre.
Doering’s home on Tumbleweed Terrace was one of 260 homes threatened by the Wilson Mountain fire on Friday night.
The blaze reportedly started above the silica mine in Oliver around dinner time late Friday afternoon.
Jack Pereira was relaxing at home on Wilson Mountain Road when he noticed firefighters on his property.
“I came out to see and the firemen said, ‘get out!’”
Pereira said the fire was threatening his house and he had to leave not knowing if he would come back to a burned out home.
Neighbours Doug and Dennise Allan were also worried, but felt confident that firefighters would protect their house.
Doug said he looked out of his window Friday evening and saw the fire coming over the hill towards them.
“We had enough time to get our passports, money and our dog,” he said.
Doug noted the flames were quite high and their utility trailer was shaking because of the wind.
“The fire went by us and that’s what saved us, just the direction of the wind.”
Doug said his family’s 1.5-acre property is mostly gravel and rock by choice. And their roof used to consist of cedar shakes, but he changed it to metal.
“We did it for fire prevention; we feel better that way,” Doug said.
It was confirmed by fire officials that one home on the mountain was destroyed. Pereira went to the evacuation centre, but turned around and headed back up to Fairview because there was too much smoke in town.
Meanwhile, J.C. Oliveira was in the thick of it on Spartan Street where the fire was a definite threat to homes there.
Like a predator, the flames creeped down the hill, urged on by intermittent gusts of wind.
“It’s something that you never think would happen to you,” said Oliveira, standing on his roof with a garden hose.
His primary worry was protecting the house, while family members stood anxious across the street. They had previously packed their van full of important documents, memorabilia and clothing.
Firefighters laid out hoses and wet down the area in front of the approaching flames, ensuring that homes were protected.
At one point, they siphoned water out of Larry Schwartzenberger’s pool to strengthen their gauntlet.
Rob Graham, spokesman for the Oliver Fire Department, said forestry crews even conducted some back-burning to help slow the advance of the fire.
While Oliver crews gained the upper hand on the Wilson Mountain fire, the Testalinden Creek fire demanded their attention fast because of heavy winds.
Trucks raced to Road 16, where the fire threatened Rustico Farm and Cellars and other structures near Cranston Hill Vineyard on Testalinden Place.
“The flames were within feet of these homes. If we hadn’t been there (at that time) . . . it would have been a different story,” said Graham.
The fire did reach one structure, but they managed to extinguish it in time, he pointed out.
Upon reflecting on the two fires, Graham said motorists stopping on the side of the road made it difficult for fire crews to access some areas.
“Humans are curious; they want to see. But people have to remember that this is a major event and crews are trying to get into these places (to save structures).”
Doering couldn’t say enough about emergency services personnel at the community centre. She noted that staff gave them food, emotional support and a room for the night.
“I can’t emphasize enough how great they were.”
LYONEL DOHERTY
Special to the Times
Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes became emotional when he thanked firefighters during a news conference on Saturday. Behind him is Mark Woods, from the RDOS, who has been working long hours to co-ordinate the Emergency Operation Centre in Oliver and Rob Graham, spokesperson for the Oliver Fire Department. (Richard McGuire photo)
