Members of the Amos family on Spartan Street used a garden hose to stop a flare-up today behind their house. By Lyonel Doherty
The Amos family on Spartan Street once again took up battle stations Saturday afternoon when a flare-up started advancing towards their home.
The Amos sisters 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.
“It was extremely scary, the flames were close by,” said Marj Doering this morning outside the evacuation centre in the community hall.
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 at around dinner time Friday.
Jack Pereira was relaxing at home on Wilson Mountain Road when he noticed firemen 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.
Neighbour Doug and Dennise Allan were also worried, but felt confident that firefighters would protect their house.
Doug said he looked out of his window on 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 their 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 fire’s advance.
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.”
See related story for an update.
By Lyonel Doherty
The Amos family wasn’t taking any chances today as they packed up preparing to leave home in case the fire got any worse. Fortunately, they didn’t have to.
The Oliveira family get packing as flames advance towards their house on Spartan Street Friday night. Photo by Lyonel Doherty
