Cooler heads prevail as wildfire situation downgraded in Slocan Valley
By Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Wildfires are receding, evacuation alerts and orders are rescinded, campfire bans are removed while lives in the Slocan Valley are being reclaimed after an intense month of wildfires.
The Southeast Fire Centre confirmed that there are no longer any fires of note burning in the region — with 76 currently burning and seven new fires — permitting all remaining evacuation alerts, orders and area restrictions to be rescinded.
“The downturn in weather steadied the wildfire activity in the region allowing for good progress to be made across all zones in the Southeast Fire Centre,” noted Claire Allen, deputy manager of Wildfire Prevention with the B.C. Wildfire Service, in a press release.
Fire behaviour and activity for the Slocan Lake Complex — including the Komonko Creek and Ponderosa FSR wildfires — has decreased and firefighting personnel no longer need to restrict public access to the area. The area restriction issued for the Slocan Lake Complex area (July 23) was rescinded Aug. 28.
“While precipitation over the past week has helped decrease fire activity across the SEFC, it’s important to remain mindful as the region enters another warming and drying trend,” noted a release from the SEFC. “Though the fire danger levels have mostly remained very low to low across most the region, this will shift as conditions change.”
Allen said communities close to wildfires can expect to continue to see smoke within a fire’s perimeter, which is common.
“However, smoke that rises from green, unburned fuel or from outside a fire’s perimeter should be reported,” the SEFC noted.
Reconnaissance, assessment and planning flights are still being conducted throughout the region and, as fires are detected, a priority sequence is initiated, beginning with fires closest to the wildland urban interface (which includes people, properties and infrastructure).
The category one campfire ban was rescinded on Aug. 26, meaning campfires are no longer prohibited within the region. However, category two and category three open fire prohibitions are still in place (Category 2 and Category 3 open fire).
As well, the following activities and equipment are also restricted:
- fireworks;
- sky lanterns;
- burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description;
- binary exploding targets;
- air curtain burners;
- tiki and similar kind of torches; and
- chimineas.
Note
The SEFC warned that before entering any area affected by a wildfire, people should be aware that significant safety hazards may be present.
“Fire-damaged trees may be unstable and could fall down. Ash pits can be hard to detect and can remain hot long after the flames have died down,” Allen explained.
Still smoking
The BC Wildfire Service said that the Slocan Lake Complex wildfire area is still an active worksite, and people should always exercise caution while travelling in the area.
Even if an area restriction has been rescinded, officials still have the authority under the Wildfire Act and its regulations to order anyone to leave the area.
