The Long Loch wildfire and the Derrickson Lake wildfire, seen by the B.C. Wildfire Service, June 30.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/B.C. Wildfire Service
Republished July 01, 2021 - 4:47 PM
Original Publication Date July 01, 2021 - 9:10 AM
B.C. Wildfire Service crews continue to chip away at three wildfires north of Big White.
The three wildfires are approximately 18 kilometres north of Big White.
The Long Loch wildfire and the Derrickson Lake wildfire are in close proximity of one another. The Derrickson Lake fire is estimated to be 1,300 hectares in size and the Long Loch wildfire is six hectares.
The smaller Hilda Creek wildfire is currently mapped at two hectares in size, said Shaelee Stearns, fire information officer with the service. It is currently being held.
There are 18 personnel battling the Hilda Creek fire, and the other two fires are being managed by 22 personnel, a helicopter and two pieces of heavy equipment on scene. They are classified as out of control.
"We were able to get more accurate reads on those because the smoke has dissipated from them," she said.
“There’s no activity like there was yesterday afternoon. That was all wind-assisted,” said Michael Ballingall, senior vice president with Big White Ski Resort, this morning.
“There’s obviously crew on the fire, but it’s opening day here and we plan on opening and running business as usual. It’s nothing unusual for a summer at Big White Ski Resort. There is a fire burning within 25 kilometres but we’re not concerned and the fire chief isn’t concerned but they are monitoring it,” he said.
The Big White Fire Department said extremely dry forest fuels mean there's a serious risk for fires right now.
- This story was update at 4:43 p.m. to include comments from the B.C. Wildfire Service.
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