Second, smaller wildfire discovered at Kinbasket Lake

By Spencer Hall

A second wildfire was discovered Wednesday night near Kinbasket Lake and is now listed as being held, meaning it is not expected to spread.

Fire Information Officer Emelie Peacock with the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) told The Goat the 0.009 hectare fire, located about 40 kilometres southeast of Valemount on the west side of Kinbasket Lake, was reported Wednesday evening at about 9:23 p.m. BCWS was able to confirm the new fire, listed as incident G30977, Thursday morning at 8 a.m.

A BCWS response officer with a crew is currently on site with heavy equipment en route to support suppression efforts. 

Peacock said Thursday morning the fire was showing rank two fire behaviour — a surface fire with a visible, open flame, an inconsistent flame front and a slow rate of spread. She said the BCWS will receive more information about fire behavior on Thursday as the day progresses. The wildfire is suspected to have been caused by human activity, but BCWS says the cause is still under investigation.

Peacock added that weather conditions going into Friday will determine the fire’s behaviour in the future. 

“Today the forecast in the area is a mix of sun and cloud with a risk of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Tonight mostly cloudy with showers and a risk of embedded thunderstorms, winds to be light and variable. Depending on how strong the winds are and how much precipitation falls will determine the fire behaviour for the next 24 hours,” she said.

Winds on Thursday are expected to blow to the east and south at 10 to 20 km per hour, gusting to 30 km per hour. Peacock said the fire is accessible by ground, but added it is too early to tell how winds will impact the fire.

To report a wildfire or irresponsible behaviour that could start a wildfire in B.C., dial *5555 on a cell phone or call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free. To report an unattended campfire or open burning violation, call the RAPP line on 1 877 952-7277.

Residents can also use the report function in the BC Wildfire App to report a wildfire. Reporting a wildfire through the app allows users to upload images and can be used without service. 

Those who report a wildfire over the phone will be asked their name, a phone number they can be reached at and the general location of the fire.

“The more specific information you can provide about the fire’s location…directions or other considerations, the better,” Peacock said. “Providing your information calmly — and with as much detail as possible — is important. You’ll also be asked about what sort of material is burning — trees, brush, grass, slash or something else.”

Callers will also likely be asked the following questions:

• Can you see smoke? If so, is it white, grey, black, brown, blue or some other colour? 
• Do you know roughly how big the fire is?  
• Is anyone currently fighting the fire?  
• Is the fire spreading?  
• Is the fire burning close to any values, such as structures, roads, or pieces of infrastructure?  

“Regardless of who provides this information, it is important for all British Columbians to take action when they spot a forest fire. Members of the public should not assume a wildfire has already been reported, even if it is in a highly visible area or an area frequented by many people.”

Download the BC Wildfire App on the App Store and on Google Play, or access the app on a web browser https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/.