Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #BCwildfire
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The Mt. Hayes fire (V62669) outside of #Ladysmith is now classified as Being Held. A fire that is Being Held has received sufficient suppression action that it is not likely to spread further under forecasted conditions. #BCWildfire 
While holding the fire is an important milestone, crews still have lots of hard physical work ahead. Due to extremely dry conditions this fire has burned deep into the ground.
In addition to strengthening control lines, crews will use hand tools to dig out hot spots and turn over and wet down earth to remove the remaining heat from the fire. Smoke will likely remain visible until the fire has been declared out.
Yesterday the Mt Hayes wildfire (V62669) received additional support from 9 parattack firefighters (smokejumpers), dispatched from the Prince George Fire Centre.
Located in #FortStJohn & #MackenzieBC and utilized heavily in the north, parattack jumpships can respond anywhere...
Located in #FortStJohn & #MackenzieBC and utilized heavily in the north, parattack jumpships can respond anywhere...
in the province within 2 hours, staffing incidents independently or providing support to resources already on the ground. On arrival to an incident parattack can deploy 6,000 lbs of equipment as well as up to 13 experienced firefighters - crews as well as officers capable of...
filling command roles or providing falling support. Well-suited to remote areas of the province, but not limited to them, smokejumpers are a highly mobile & versatile resource taking advantage of the speed, range, payload & cost efficiency of fixed wing aircraft.
The #BCWildfire Service calls on the skills and expertise of many contractors each year and selects qualified and appropriate resources for its fire operations.
BC Wildfire Service personnel work closely with contractor firefighters to determine how to best match their availability and expertise with operational objectives.
This short video showcases some of the hard working contractors and Quebecois who are currently dedicating their time to fight the White Rock Lake wildfire (K61884), west of #VernonBC.
Thoughts on an independent review for the 2021 #BCWildfire season:
(Yes, it's still going. But we need to plan for the 2022 season...now)
Yet another wildfire 🧵
(Yes, it's still going. But we need to plan for the 2022 season...now)
Yet another wildfire 🧵
1) An honest evaluation of our response is crucial to improving our future responses. The same way an NHL player gets direction from coach, and coach from the GM, BCWS needs to receive feedback to improve.
We could be the best in the world, but we want to get better every year.
We could be the best in the world, but we want to get better every year.
2) This must be independent.
Independent from BCWS, independent from partisan politics.
The 2003 Filmon & 2017 Abbott-Chapman reports were edited by political players. Although useful reports, I would not consider them truly independent
Independent from BCWS, independent from partisan politics.
The 2003 Filmon & 2017 Abbott-Chapman reports were edited by political players. Although useful reports, I would not consider them truly independent
In my career, I have never been more concerned than I am for what this province will face in the next ~36 hours.
(THREAD)
#BCwildfires
(THREAD)
#BCwildfires
There is the chance of (some) rain for a few areas by Sunday night / Monday, but between then and now we will have to navigate one of the most volatile combinations of natural and human factors that many of us have ever seen.
An unprecedented wildfire season, our second major heat event, and the looming fourth wave of the pandemic are coalescing in to one critical period.
And: short of a complete and unseasonal weather shift, we have at least another month of wildfire activity ahead of us.
And: short of a complete and unseasonal weather shift, we have at least another month of wildfire activity ahead of us.
“My name is Kyle Young and I am an Incident Commander with the #BCWildfire Service. I am writing this post rather than sharing a video message because, frankly, it would be too emotional for me."
"I am someone that ground crews, my kids, and many other people, look up to for guidance through these challenging seasons. I have been doing this job for 16 years. I am a third generation wildland firefighter, following my father and grandfather."
"I have a long history within this organization and the love I have for this job is what drives me every day, along with the support I receive from my family and co-workers."
If conditions on site are favourable later this morning, the #BCWildfire Service will be conducting a planned aerial & hand ignition on the Flat Lake wildfire (C41602). Smoke is anticipated to be visible from #100MileHouse, #70MileHouse, #BCHwy97 and the surrounding communities.
This planned ignition operation is being considered for the N edge of the fire perimeter in the area south of Moose Valley Park, between Gustafsen Lake & Holden Lake. The purpose of the planned ignition is to remove unburnt fuels between the fire perimeter and pre-determined...
...control lines (roads and machine guards) and will cover approximately 600 hectares. This will bring the fire perimeter to more easily accessible locations where ground crews can safely work and deliver water directly to the fire’s edge.
@environmentca has issued a Heat Warning for the South Coast of British Columbia. Thursday and Friday will be the hottest days of the week. For more information go to: weather.gc.ca/warnings/index….
On Aug. 7, a band of thunderstorms crossed the area spanning north of Campbell River onto the mainland north of Powell River. Close to 160 lightning strikes were detected, resulting in 5 fires. In the below image, the blue and green markings identify where lightning has struck.
The Coastal Fire Centre is preparing to respond to any holdover fires which may become visible as a result of hot weather and lower relative humidity’s over the coming days. With a holdover lightning strike, there can be a delay in a #BCwildfire becoming visible.
If conditions on site are favourable this morning the #BCWildfire Service will be conducting aerial planned ignitions on the Flat Lake wildfire (C41602), approximately 27 kilometres southwest of #100MileHouse.
Smoke is anticipated to be visible from 70 Mile House, #BCHWY97 and the surrounding communities.
This planned ignition operation is being considered for the southwest corner of the fire perimeter in the area between Meadow Lake Road, Dog Creek Road and the Gustafson East FSR.
This planned ignition operation is being considered for the southwest corner of the fire perimeter in the area between Meadow Lake Road, Dog Creek Road and the Gustafson East FSR.
The purpose of the planned ignition is to remove unburnt fuels between the fire perimeter and pre-determined control lines (roads and machine guards) and will cover approximately 800 hectares.
As new technology emerges, the #BCWildfire Service is reminding the public to understand their best uses. Although online fire detection tools, such as MODIS, can be helpful to gather information about wildfires in your area, they can also cause a lot of confusion and anxiety.
MODIS uses satellite sensors to record the intensity of electromagnetic radiation from Earth in various spectral wavelengths or channels. This means heat signatures are picked up by the satellite and the map is populated with pixels.
The satellite can flag smoke, or large open areas such as cut blocks, as a heat signature. It will also pick up a heat signature if the ground around a fire is cooler than the fire itself, for example in the morning.
This morning, July 31, 2021, areas of the Fraser Zone in the Coastal Fire Centre received multiple lightning strikes resulting in reports of two wildfires on the northern half of Harrison Lake, northeast of #Chilliwack. #BCWildfire
No fires have been reported on the southern portion of the lake. The lightning moved across Harrison Lake in a northeastern direction. Resources have been dispatched and are now attending these fires.
Currently there are two confirmed with more expected to be discovered as the day progresses.
North End Long Island (V12262) – this fire is currently .5 hectares in size and aerial resources including air tankers are on site.
North End Long Island (V12262) – this fire is currently .5 hectares in size and aerial resources including air tankers are on site.
If conditions on site are favourable later this morning the #BCWildfire Service will be conducting small scale planned ignitions on the Flat Lake wildfire (C41602) approximately 27 kilometres southwest of #100MileHouse.
Smoke is anticipated to be visible from #70MileHouse, HWY 97 and the surrounding communities.
This planned ignition operation is being considered for the south edge of the fire perimeter in the area between Alberta Lake, McKinley Lake and the 3900 road.
This planned ignition operation is being considered for the south edge of the fire perimeter in the area between Alberta Lake, McKinley Lake and the 3900 road.
The purpose of the planned ignition is to remove unburnt fuels between the fire perimeter and pre-determined control lines (roads and machine guards) and will cover approximately 200 hectares.
Some morning thoughts about #wildfires and forest management in #bcpoli:
About a month ago I started playing drop in soccer again.
My first night there, there were three guys I didn’t know, talking about setting wedges + other things I know to be associated with falling trees.
About a month ago I started playing drop in soccer again.
My first night there, there were three guys I didn’t know, talking about setting wedges + other things I know to be associated with falling trees.
I asked them if they were arborists, or if they worked in the forest industry.
They said neither, they are forest fire fighters on the local crew. This was a couple days before the heat dome, and we talked about how busy they expected fire season to get in the coming weeks.
They said neither, they are forest fire fighters on the local crew. This was a couple days before the heat dome, and we talked about how busy they expected fire season to get in the coming weeks.
They haven’t been at soccer since, and, as there are mercifully fewer fires here on the Island, I assume that’s because they are redeployed to the interior, where hundreds of fires are raging.
#BCPoli #BCWildfires
#BCPoli #BCWildfires
Check out the #thomascreek wildfire by #okanaganfalls. Thankfully homes are downslope because this fire foxtrot oscar'd in the heat of the day
(Also keep an eye on that fire west of Kelowna starting)
(Also keep an eye on that fire west of Kelowna starting)
This weather was forecasted and came as predicted, so it's no surprise this happened.
Lots of politicians calling for a SoE including @BlackwellMerlin @toddstonebc @PeterMilobar @shirleybond
Tweet from a #ashcroft structural fire fighter shows why. Up for 24hrs to defend homes. Lists plenty of local help - but no BCWS assets.
Tweet from a #ashcroft structural fire fighter shows why. Up for 24hrs to defend homes. Lists plenty of local help - but no BCWS assets.
@BlackwellMerlin @toddstonebc @PeterMilobar @shirleybond Here's the #tremontcreek wildfire by Ashcroft as of 6am July 14th.
Forecast is for hot temps and a strong easterly (20 gusting 40) wind this afternoon
Forecast is for hot temps and a strong easterly (20 gusting 40) wind this afternoon
There have been 787 wildfires in British Columbia so far this season, 330 of those fires started within the last week. The #BCWildfire Service would like to acknowledge all personnel responding to the ongoing wildfire situation.
The #BCWildfire Service is a multifaceted organization consisting of positions both on and off the fireline that are vital to wildfire management. With heightened activity, the passion and resiliency of our staff members becomes evident.
Firefighters, pilots and support staff have been working around the clock to manage this recent surge in wildfire activity. Additionally, we are grateful for the incoming support received from partner agencies.
Campfire and open burning prohibitions are currently in place across B.C. The #BCWildfire Service (BCWS) continues to monitor conditions and will take further action to protect public safety if necessary. At this time, the BCWS has not implemented any backcountry closures.
All trails and backroads that are not affected by Area Restriction Orders, Evacuation Orders, or are otherwise under municipal jurisdiction, remain open for public use. Members of the public must remain vigilant and act responsibly when recreating in the backcountry.
Know before you go: check the local fire danger rating, download the BC Wildfire Service app and stay up to date with location-specific wildfire information.
The #BCWildfire Service would like to remind the public that preparing in advance for a potential Evacuation Alert or Evacuation Order is important during times of heightened wildfire risk and activity.
Evacuation Alerts and Orders are put into place by local governments.
Evacuation Alerts and Orders are put into place by local governments.
Any information about evacuations will come from a band office, municipality, regional district or local authority. Once an Evacuation Alert or Order is place, the information is reflected on the BC Wildfire Service Dashboard and through the BC Wildfire service mobile app.
The BC Wildfire Service provides updates as required and as situations continue to develop. Any changes to an evacuation status are made through the local authority and Emergency Management BC.
The #BCWildfire Service continues to respond to 54 wildfires within the #Cariboo Fire Centre. Currently, there are six Wildfires of Note within the Cariboo Fire Centre.
The BC Wildfire Service is continuously assessing incidents and responding where it is needed.
The BC Wildfire Service is continuously assessing incidents and responding where it is needed.
We follow standards and guidelines while assessing our priorities, which are life, property, infrastructure and resources, and we allocate resources as it is set out by the BC Emergency Management System (BCEMS). BCEMS is recognized as a standard system for emergency response.
An Incident Management Team has assumed command of a section of the #100MileHouse Fire Zone, including the wildfire S of Canim Lake (C41100) and near Deka Lake (C41201).
Today, #BCWildfire Service personnel on the Sparks Lake Fire (K21001) will be conducting a controlled burn operation, with both helicopter and hand ignition. The goal of this operation is to remove the available fuel between the fire's edge and the fuel free guard.
The targeted area is from W of Red Lake, around Carabine Hill, tying into the wetlands on the SW quadrant of the fire. This will be a low intensity burn conducted to slow down and help limit spread. Ground personnel continue to lay hose along the fuel free guard in preparation.
This is done to ensure that they have water available to extinguish any smoke or flame that may be seen near the fuel free guard. Increased smoke will be highly visible to surrounding communities. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.
158 acres of our 160 acre property burned to a crisp in the #mckaycreekwildfire last week. Our house and immediate yard just barely (and luckily!) survived. Many factors were beyond our control, but some things we did likely helped save what did survive. #BCWildfires #bcwildfire
We had just over 30 hours between when the fire started and when it reached our house. There was no evacuation order or alert, even after our place was burned… but none was really necessary, we could see it coming!
As soon as we saw the smoke plume (~20km away), we got to work:
As soon as we saw the smoke plume (~20km away), we got to work:
1) we weed whacked/ mowed everything around the house down super short
2) we set up irrigation all around the house and on the roof - we aren’t a ranch, so it was literally garden hoses and hose sprinklers
3) we moved all fuels (propane, gas) away from the house area
2) we set up irrigation all around the house and on the roof - we aren’t a ranch, so it was literally garden hoses and hose sprinklers
3) we moved all fuels (propane, gas) away from the house area
Tragedy like the #LyttonFire is the very reason why we should talk about the impacts of #climatechange on these events and on #wildfires in Canada. A thread. 1/
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Obviously, #wildfires are strongly linked to #weather/#climate parameters. The warmer, the windier, the drier is the weather, the more fire ignition probabilities and spread
Obviously, #wildfires are strongly linked to #weather/#climate parameters. The warmer, the windier, the drier is the weather, the more fire ignition probabilities and spread
3/
#temperatures are increasing fast around the globe but way faster in Canada. 1.7C since 1948. Warming in especially important in the west, notably in spring and summer time
#temperatures are increasing fast around the globe but way faster in Canada. 1.7C since 1948. Warming in especially important in the west, notably in spring and summer time
The #BCWildfire Service is responding to K71086 in #Lytton. At this time this is an evolving situation and we are working with the Lytton Fire Brigade.
This is an agency assist as the Lytton Fire Brigade is the lead agency on this fire.
This is an agency assist as the Lytton Fire Brigade is the lead agency on this fire.
We are diverting resources where possible to respond to the incident.
The @TNRD has issued an Evacuation Order for 87 properties for Electoral Area “I” (Blue Sky Country), and an Evacuation Alert has been issued for 24 properties in Electoral Area “I”(Blue Sky Country).
#BCWildfire Service is continuing suppression efforts on the Sparks Lake Wildfire (K21001), which is estimated at 4000 ha. Today there are 56 firefighters along with 10 helicopters and 2 pieces of heavy equipment.
The @TNRD has issued an Evacuation Order for 18 properties in Electoral Area "J" (Copper Desert Country), along with an Evacuation Alert for 150 properties in the Deadman, Red Lake, Tranquille Valley and Vidette Lake areas. Please contact the TNRD for more information.
For more information and a map of the state of local emergency and evacuation area, please visit: tnrd.ca/services/emerg….
For more information about this incident, please refer to the Wildfires of note webpage: ow.ly/IcRe30rMrRW. #Kamloops
For more information about this incident, please refer to the Wildfires of note webpage: ow.ly/IcRe30rMrRW. #Kamloops
