Community Update #3: Current wildfires in the SLRD

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Applicable communities
All Areas

There are currently a number of wildfires burning within, or near the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD).

SLRD situational awareness:
•    Three fires in the SLRD are listed as ‘out of control’
•    There are no ‘Fires of Note’ in the SLRD
•    There are no SLRD values at risk
•    As a precautionary measure, BC Parks has closed Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park. Please visit bcparks.ca/active-advisories for more information on park-related impacts related to wildfires.

Wildfires listed as ‘out of control’:

Electoral Area C
Near Pemberton and Birken – Coastal Fire Centre

Birkenhead Lake (V31836): 360 hectares / out of control
BC Wildfire Services has posted a video update on the Birkenhead Lake Fire (V31841) in the Pemberton Zone by Incident Commander, Russ Robertson.

 

As of Tuesday, August 13, reported by BC Wildfire Services - Crews are actioning fuel modification objectives at the southwest end of Birkenhead Lake. Heavy machinery is being utilized at the east and west flanks to establish points. The fire remains east of Sockeye Creek. No evacuation alerts have been recommended and there is no threat to the community as of this update.

As a precautionary measure,  Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park has been closed to the public. Please visit bcparks.ca/active-advisories for more information on park-related impacts related to wildfires. Community members can expect to see smoke. Public is asked to stay clear of the area and Birkenhead Lake.

Rutherford Creek (V31841): 56.1 hectares / out of control
As of Tuesday, August 13, reported by BC Wildfire Services - The Rutherford Creek Fire (V31841) has crews working on the northeast flank. Road access and a water source have been accessed. Equipment is moving in to bring water to the fire. Three helicopters were actioning this fire today on the south flank in steep, rocky terrain.

NEW Upper Elaho River (V32132): 135 hectares / out of control
As of Tuesday, August 13, reported by BC Wildfire Services - The Upper Elaho River Fire (V32132), detected at approximately 1445 on August 12, saw explosive growth in the 2015 burn area. Crews and aviation resources were deployed to the incident. Crews and aviation resources were deployed to the incident.

Reminder: Evacuation Alerts and Orders are issued through the SLRD's Emergency Alert Notification System; sign up here to receive alerts by email, text, or phone.

The SLRD continues to monitor this dynamic and evolving situation, and is working closely with BC Wildfire Service to ensure we are up-to-date on the status of each fire. At the time of issuing this community update, there are currently no structures within the SLRD that are at risk due to these fires.

The following situational awareness update is from the BC Wildfire Services dashboard and is the most up-to-date information at this time. Please note that this information can change quickly; for updates and the latest information, please always check the BC Wildfire Service’s website.

While some areas of the province have seen isolated showers, lightning activity continues and warm, dry conditions are expected to persist. There have been 256 new starts in the last seven days, of which approximately 82% are believed to be lightning caused.

It is important to be aware of how wildfires and other emergencies may impact you and your community. Ensure you’re referring to trusted sources of information to keep you and your loved ones safe this summer.

For the most up-to-date information available about wildfires, refer to https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/dashboard. This public, interactive resource can be accessed through your desktop browser or the BC Wildfire Service mobile app on Apple or Android. Information on this site is collected directly from personnel in the field and is sent to Fire Centres. From there, information on location, size, perimeters, suspected cause, contact information, details about response, maps and images are updated regularly by BC Wildfire Service dispatchers and Information Officers. For more information on how to use the dashboard visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/about-bcws/appreferenceguide

For the current smoke forecast: visit: https://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/

Emergency preparedness reminders:

  • Know the hazards – knowing what hazards you need to plan for is the first step 
    to being prepared.
  • Visit the FireSmartBC to learn how to make your property resilient to wildfire. The SLRD Wildfire Mitigation Team is on standby, ready to help. Book your Free FireSmart Assessment by email at firesmart@slrd.bc.ca or by phone at 604-384-7323.
  • Make an emergency plan for yourself, all members of your household and your pets.
  • Prepare your emergency supplies and build your kits:
  • Ensure you have supplies, including food, water and necessary medicines, for at least 72 hours.
  • Research insurance options and ensure your plan is up-to-date.
  • Evacuation routes: understand how you will leave the area.
  • Evacuation and recovery resources- Learn what happens in evacuations, what financial assistance you might be eligible for and other recovery resources.

Stay Informed: In an emergency, misinformation is dangerous. Get your information from official sources, and make sure you have access:

Applicable service
Emergency Management
Notice type(s)
Emergency Notice
Wildlife Notices