The change of seasons from summer to fall doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean that fire season is over.

A fire near the Elk Falls Mill just north of Campbell River on Tuesday showed that. Initial calls came in at around 1:30 p.m. to the Campbell River Fire Department, who called for mutual aid from the B.C. Wildfire Service.

B次元官网网址淭hey requested our support and weB次元官网网址檙e happy to do that,B次元官网网址� said fire information officer Mike McCulley. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 actually a really good example of how collaboration between the B.C. Wildfire Service and local fire department works. They asked for our support, and we were able to send one initial attack crew, as well as an officer out to the scene. We quickly decided that helicopter bucketing support was in order.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淎ll told we had about 20 CRFD staff, two from Oyster River with their water tender, four members from Coastal Fire, two members from B.C. Ambulance, two helicopters and one RCMP member,B次元官网网址� said Campbell River acting deputy fire chief Seth Hildebrand. B次元官网网址淚t was about 15 acres in size by the time it finally stopped.B次元官网网址�

Two helicopters attended the fire, dropping buckets on the blaze. By 6 p.m., the crews were able to classify the fire as B次元官网网址渦nder control,B次元官网网址� McCulley said.

B次元官网网址淭he suppression efforts we took were enough to keep the fire from growing any further yesterday. It was a really good example of a collaborative effort, and it was another example of how important initial attack response is on some of these fires,B次元官网网址� McCulley said. B次元官网网址淚f we can get at them quickly and keep them contained and under control, thatB次元官网网址檚 going to be our best bet.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a large water tank there that feeds the old mill site at Discovery ParkB次元官网网址� there were no actual structures that were at risk with this fire, which was really fortunate,B次元官网网址� Hildebrand said. B次元官网网址淲e did have highway 19 close by, but the helicopters made a real effective stop as it was heading toward the east there.

B次元官网网址淚t was a very good call. They were very helpful.B次元官网网址�

Despite the fact that fall equinox has come and gone, McCulley says that there is more hot and dry conditions to come.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really not, unfortunately, expecting any amount of precipitation that would really help us with the drought conditions and cause a season-ending rain event. ThatB次元官网网址檚 not on the radar at all,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to warm up again next week and get a little bit drier. ItB次元官网网址檚 really important that people continue to report wildfires when they see them, continue to be very cautious out there.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭here are still multiple active wildfires on Vancouver Island, and weB次元官网网址檙e expecting that to continue for at least a few more weeks,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f the public reports them quickly, we can get on them quickly and we have a much greater chance of keeping them small and reducing the impact of the fire.B次元官网网址�

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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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