Sidney firefighters are working with from across the province and from as far away as Ontario, as they keep the flames at bay in Williams Lake.
As part of the province-wide call out for firefighters and , Sidney sent an engine company of one fire truck and five firefighters B次元官网网址� as did the District of North Saanich. Sidney Deputy Fire Chief Mike Harman spoke to the Peninsula B次元官网网址 Review from Soda Creek on Monday afternoon. He said the crew theyB次元官网网址檝e been assigned to are working in a trailer park in that area, installing sprinkler systems on peopleB次元官网网址檚 homes to keep them wet in the event wildfires raging in that region turn their destructive power their way.
B次元官网网址淲e have a series of bladders, or portable water reservoirs, and four engine companies,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e touring all of the building and identifying fuel and power sources and determining the layout of each property.B次元官网网址�
To keep the bladders full and supplying water to the sprinklers, Harman said another three tender trucks are making runs between a filling station and their position - constantly.
B次元官网网址淚f the fire does turn towards here,B次元官网网址� he explained, B次元官网网址渨e turn the water on to all the sprinklers.B次元官网网址�
And should the winds change B次元官网网址� Harman said winds are calm today (July 17) B次元官网网址� and change the direction of nearby wildfires, they will evacuate to a safe zone that been pre-determined. Harman added heB次元官网网址檚 in constant communication with the base of operations there, in order to know that status of the fires B次元官网网址� and to keep the crews safe.
The Sidney firefighters arrived in Williams Lake late Sunday afternoon. They secured accommodation and immediately went to replace another crew. Monday morning, they attended a briefing by the bosses from West Kelowna, he said, and began their shift from 12 noon to 10 p.m.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e on a six-day deployment,B次元官网网址滺arman said. B次元官网网址淎nother crew we sent up was sent to Cache Creek.B次元官网网址�
The drive up to the B.C. interior was quite different that what regular visitors might expect. Harman said they passed few other travellers along Highway 97 north of Cache Creek B次元官网网址� mainly only RCMP roadblocks, both on the highway and along back roads.
Harman said Williams Lake itself felt like a ghost town, following a Saturday and Sunday. He said thereB次元官网网址檚 no one left in the Soda Creek trailer park, but those from Williams Lake proper who have remained behind, are the ones providing firefighters with their meals.
Harman said all of his firefighters are safe and working with others from all over B.C. and Canada to help prevent fire from causing a lot of damage. He said they expect to be there until Saturday.
