Air Tanker aircraft used to fight new wildfire southwest of Nelson
By Lone Sheep Publishing
BC Wildfire Service used an aerial assault to tackle a lightning-caused fire that started Tuesday afternoon in the mountains west of Nelson.
The 49 Creek wildfire, located approximately 11 kilometres southwest of Nelson and nine kilometres east of Playmor Junction at the intersection of Highway 3A/6, started at approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Smoke could be seen from the Taghum area and west along Highway 3A.
BC Wildfire Service sent a helicopter with a bucket to first attack the fire, estimated Tuesday evening at 3.60-4 hectares.
Later, two CL-215T aircraft from the Province of Alberta were deployed to aid in the wildfire fight.
The air tankers, flying from the west over Lakeside Park, used Kootenay Lake north of B.O.B (Big Orange Bridge) to fill up before returning to dowse the blaze and keep fire behaviour low.
The CL-215T air tanker is an amphibious, flying boat-type aircraft specifically designed as an air tanker.
Crowds flocked to Lakeside Park and Sproat Drive along the waterfront to view skimmers collect water from Kootenay Lake.
BC Wildfire Service said on social media the fire, which is not threatening any structures currently, is highly visible from Nelson, surrounding areas and travellers on BC Highway 3A and BC Highway 6.
BC Wildfire Service added a 20-person unit crew was en route to the wildfire.
Tuesday afternoon saw a thunderstorm travel over Nelson, dropping some precipitation and comes after another storm Sunday.
Environment Canada is forecasting a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms for Wednesday.
The CL-215 skimmer travels over B.O.B (Big Orange Bridge) to fill up with water from Kootenay Lake.
The 49-creek wildfire is located 11 kilometres southwest of Nelson and nine kilometres east of Playmor Junction. — Map courtesy BC Wildfire Service
Editor's Note: The story was updated to clarify that the planes flying over Nelson Tuesday were amphibious, flying boat-type aircraft specifically designed as an air tanker and not water skimmers.
