• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

BC Fires

Former Wrench

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2014
Messages
472
Location
Montesano, WA
Occupation
Retired
I have been following the BC fires and hope for the best for everyone there. Being in Alaska, I have driven through those areas many times in the past 45 years so I have a feeling for how big this is. Be safe and I wish I could send you the rain we have been getting all summer in Juneau. It has rained more days than not since the snow melted.
 

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,148
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
Guys are gearing up to go. Seen a lot of equipment on the move and logging trucks with water tanks strapped onto the frames.
 

GregsHD

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
557
Location
Mahood Falls, BC
Occupation
Self Employed HD Mechanic
They're keeping control last couple days on some of the fires, weather has been cooperating with lack of wind, the Gustafson fire closest to me is now 15% contained, still around 5000ha. They are doing controlled burns here to protect the town and mills and in 150 Mile House. Slight rain is expected next week. I sure hope so!

They had to evacuate lots of people down the logging roads where my property is, through about 70km of rough roads, as the hwy is closed due to the fire, had to put calcium chloride down, the dust was horrendous, they did a great job getting people out. I feel less stress knowing the majority of people are out of this area (including my Mom and Brother which both live closer to 100 Mile), if I need to go (I hope it won't come to that) there won't be much trouble.
 

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,148
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
I just went out to Little Fort. Thuya Lake fire seems to be slowly drifting south way up above highway 5. Not much action there or on the Dunn Lake fires. Saw one or 2 trees flare up but nothing more than that. Definitely not as exciting as escaping The Mac last spring. I hope it doesn't get that hairy out here.
 

Former Wrench

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2014
Messages
472
Location
Montesano, WA
Occupation
Retired
I am curious to see how things are going. Last summer we decided to take a detour at Williams Lake and drive to Bella Coola. The only time I had been there was years ago and it was by ferry. Next week we leave Juneau by ferry to Prince Rupert. The next day we ferry to Bella Bella and overnight. The next day is the small ferry to Bella Coola to overnight. From there we are uncertain about our route to the lower-48, but that might change depending on what the fire is doing.

Last year we took in the truck show at Cache Creek then headed east through Ashcroft to Merritt then Princeton to Hope. It will be interesting to see what has changed. We have a guest going home so we plan to take the Frasier Valley and go the long way on the Alaska Hwy to Whitehorse to show off some scenery. We end up in Skagway to take the ferry home. If I see anything good I will get photos and post when we return.
 

GregsHD

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
557
Location
Mahood Falls, BC
Occupation
Self Employed HD Mechanic
My area is under evacuation alert as of this afternoon, same with south of Clearwater, these winds are not good... Smoke is blocking the sun pretty, eerie out..
 

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,148
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
My area is under evacuation alert as of this afternoon, same with south of Clearwater, these winds are not good... Smoke is blocking the sun pretty, eerie out..

Yep and I'm about ready to tear a strip off someone. Clearwater's mayor signed the alert notice at 1 o'clock this afternoon. As of 4 o'clock it hadn't even been posted to any official websites that we were told to rely on for the proper information (ie District of Clearwater, TNRD, etc). But it was all over Facebook despite the constant warnings we've been told to not to trust anything posted to social media without fact checking first. I don't even have Facebook and the only reason I knew about the alert was that a volunteer delivered an official notice to our door because they were tasked with locating all the senior citizens and couldn't find my grandpa. This was 2 hours after the alert was issued.
 

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,148
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
The TNRD website has FA posted for updates since the 11th. Just checked the District of Clearwater website and they've finally updated it. As of 2:45pm it has been expanded to the entire city.
 

GregsHD

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
557
Location
Mahood Falls, BC
Occupation
Self Employed HD Mechanic
I've been watching the regional district sites, BC wildfires, drive BC and listing to CBC radio, sat internet and VoIP phone is my only communication. just moved onto this quarter section of raw land in October, I'm living in a 37ft fifth wheel while we build so at least I can gather the dogs and chickens, pin on and go.
 

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,148
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
Dunn Lake fire sure travelled in the last 24 hours. Is was about 5 km from the golf course when I checked it almost 2 hours ago. Its still up on the mountain but if it gets down into the valley by the highway the wind will blow it to Clearwater pretty quick I think.
 

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,148
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
Screenshot this just now. For those of you who haven't been checking this map:

Flame symbol = Fire of Note (basically means the fire is likely to threaten property)
Red dot = New fire (less than 24 hrs old, not a fire of note)
Yellow dot = More than 24 hours old, not a fire of note
Screenshot_2017-07-15-19-02-11.png
 

Junkyard

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
3,636
Location
Claremore, OK
Occupation
Field Mechanic
Yikes. We don't have to deal with anything of that magnitude around here. Pretty serious chit!
 

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,148
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
This is just like 2003. That was the last time BC got hit by fires this bad and I recall that was the last time they declared a state of emergency as well.
 

GregsHD

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
557
Location
Mahood Falls, BC
Occupation
Self Employed HD Mechanic
The Gustafson fire is holding so far at 5000ha so it's not much of a threat compared to the Ashcroft fire, which is huge 43000+ha and out of control, still on the west side of hwy 97 but threatening to jump over, heading north at a pretty good clip (Grass and brush). I believe that's why my area is on alert.

South Clearwater is on evac order as of last night.

I moved my horse down to Barriere rodeo grounds yesterday, one less thing to worry about..

All the neighbors here are going to go in a convoy if need be, we have a property in Barriere to camp out on, pretty safe there as it was burned out in the 2003 fire.

Pretty intense situation...
 

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,148
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
All of Clearwater has been on alert since yesterday evening. The wind has died down today and the Dunn Lake fire is still on the opposite side of the river.
 

GregsHD

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
557
Location
Mahood Falls, BC
Occupation
Self Employed HD Mechanic
Weather calmed down overnight, things are looking a little better today up here.

The Ashcroft fire is now almost 53000ha, they put out a perimeter map and it is on both sides of hwy 97, mostly on the east side, I must have read some false info? Lots of rumors going on but it's not like we can just go take a gander at it!
 

GregsHD

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
557
Location
Mahood Falls, BC
Occupation
Self Employed HD Mechanic
Got a bit of rain Thu and a sprinkle today, definitely eased the situation! A few small fires sparked up from lighting but nothing serious. They are working on removing the evac order for 100mile but will take a while yet I'm sure.

Got a job to do on Sunday, the rancher got parts from Kamloops, I've also done some plumbing in the local corner store so at least I've had some work through all this!
 
Top