Rock Creek Wildfire

[Donald G]

Wine brings in millions. Hicksville costs thousands each month. Simple math ...

[fluffy]

Forest fires around Rock Creek typically take longer to contain as whenever the water bombers fly out of the smoke the flight crew wants to go for pizza.

[Frisk]

29 homes confirmed lost.

[Always Sunny]

29 homes confirmed lost.

http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-st ... htm#146057

[squirt10]

What a bunch of rude/ignorant comments .I guess farming, ranching, logging don't qualify as work..

[zookeeper]

What a bunch of rude/ignorant comments ..

Indeed, as if the people responsible for replacing power poles ran off to save homes wine in Oliver. What a slap in the face for all of those working tirelessly to do the best that they can in all areas.

[watchkat]

West of Rock Creek (N60584)

Last updated: Sunday, August 16, 2015 at 9:24 AM

Location: West of Rock Creek

Discovered: Thursday, August 13, 2015

Size: 3,750.0 hectares (estimated)

Status: Active
• 0% contained
The fire size is currently estimated at 3,750 hectares.

A warm drying trend may return over the next several days. This may cause an increase fire behaviour and growth.

Interface: Interface Interface Fire
BC Wildfire Service crews are working with structural protection firefighters from throughout the region to protect life and property in the area.

Evacuation Order is in effect.

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary has issued an Evacuation Order and an additional Evacuation Alert. For more information on this Evacuation Order and Alert, please visit: http://www.rdkb.com

More information
This wildfire is uncontained and extremely dangerous. Anyone entering the evacuation area will be putting themselves and firefighters at risk. This area contains multiple potential hazards, including active wildfire, "danger trees" (trees whose root systems have been weakened by fire activity), heavy equipment use and downed power lines.

Entering the evacuation area can delay firefighting activities, contribute to the growth of the fire and possibly put more values and people at risk. Safe fire suppression efforts depend on the support and understanding of the public.

A section of Highway 33 has been closed due to this incident. Highway 3 was reopened at 10:30 PM. For more information on these closures, please visit: : http://www.drivebc.ca

Cause: Under Investigation
The cause of this wildfire is under investigation, but it is suspected to be human-caused. All human-caused wildfires are preventable and unnecessarily divert firefighting resources from naturally occurring fires. The Southeast Fire Centre is urging everyone to be cautious when in the backcountry and refrain from any activities that may cause a wildfire.

Resources
• 102 firefighters
• 7 helicopters
• 14 heavy equipment
Firefighters and helicopters are currently responding and additional resources and personnel are en route.

[Glassman1]

Please excuse my stupidity but is there actually 2 fires burning around Rock Creek? 1 in Rock Creek and 1 burning halfway between Rock Creek and Westbridge around the provincial campground? Other people are talking about a fire in Westbridge going up the Christian Valley. I thought the campground that burnt down is the little one in Rock Creek?

[Frisk]

Here's the forecast for rock creek, warm and dry.

Today Sunny. Becoming a mix of sun and cloud this afternoon. Local smoke. High 26. UV index 6 or high.
Tonight Partly cloudy. Local smoke. Low 15.

Mon, 17 Aug Sunny. Local smoke. High 24.
Night Clear. Low 15.

Tue, 18 Aug Sunny. High 31.
Night Clear. Low 15.

Wed, 19 Aug Sunny. High 33.
Night Clear. Low 17.

Thu, 20 Aug Sunny. High 32.
Night Cloudy periods. Low 12.

Fri, 21 Aug A mix of sun and cloud. High 23.
Night Cloudy periods with 60 percent chance of showers. Low 10.

Sat, 22 Aug Sunny. High 25.

[Frisk]

Please excuse my stupidity but is there actually 2 fires burning around Rock Creek? 1 in Rock Creek and 1 burning halfway between Rock Creek and Westbridge around the provincial campground? Other people are talking about a fire in Westbridge going up the Christian Valley. I thought the campground that burnt down is the little one in Rock Creek?

It's a single fire that split up and went 2 different directions.

[Xia33]

Wine brings in millions. Hicksville costs thousands each month. Simple math ...

Something to be said, and not good, about the self importance of people in certain parts of the Okanagan. Wildfires are devastating to those effected, no matter what they do for a living or where they live. The lack of compassion shown In the above statement, and the arrogance is pathetic, imo.

[DaveC]

Hi,
I have some stuff I'd like to donate for the families with children in Rock Creek. Does anyone know who is facilitating that?

Thanks,
Dave

[Always Sunny]

Instead of all the "I heard that" or "my buddy told me his friend said that" everyone *bleep* off to the Oliver fire, let's remember that:

Resources for (N60584)
• 102 firefighters
• 7 helicopters
• 14 heavy equipment
Firefighters and helicopters are currently responding and additional resources and personnel are en route.

There also isn't a major fire centre near us. It takes lots of time to mobilize firefighters from other districts and other places around the country. When a new fire starts, like the one(s) near Oliver, existing staff and resources need to be shifted around in order to meet the needs of both areas. As someone who worked in the industry for many years, crews and resources are moved around all of the time, and yes, sometimes there is a wait to fill those open resource positions while some of those resources are moved to a different fire.

I worked for the Ontario government via the Provincial Coordination Centre in Victoria back in 2009 during the Terrace Mountain fire. Existing physical bodies and equipment will be moved to a new area of concern until all areas can be effectively managed by more resources being sent in.

Chances are, while the Rock Creek fire had grown, the fire activity was at such a level that resources were more desperately needed in Oliver, where from the pictures we could see the fires were very active. Twenty-nine homes have been lost in the Rock Creek area, but we do not know that this is because resources were moved. The area is only now safe enough to move into to assess the damages. In all likelihood these were destroyed early on when the fire was growing most rapidly.

[Piecemaker]

If you knew anything about the terrain, the fuel, the climate and the strong winds present at the time the fire started and since, you'd just be thankful that no human lives were lost. If you've ever worked a fire line you'd know what exhausted means. Those fighting the fire are giving their all and probably some of them have lost their homes, barns and livelihood.

[Piecemaker]

For those talking out their butt about resources being moved to Oliver fires, I have copied the information about resources working on the fire from earlier posts in this thread. It doesn't appear that any resources were diverted from Rock Creek to Oliver.


Resources (Thursday afternoon)
• 32 firefighters
• 6 helicopters
• 3 heavy equipment
• 2 airtankers
Firefighters, airtankers and helicopters are currently responding and additional resources and personnel are en route.

Resources (Friday Morning)
• 76 firefighters
• 4 helicopters
• 3 heavy equipment
• 2 airtankers
Firefighters, airtankers and helicopters are currently responding and additional resources and personnel are en route.

Resources (Saturday afternoon)
• 100 firefighters
• 7 helicopters
• 14 heavy equipment
Firefighters, airtankers and helicopters are currently responding and additional resources and personnel are en route.

Resources (today)
• 102 firefighters
• 7 helicopters
• 14 heavy equipment
Firefighters and helicopters are currently responding and additional resources and personnel are en route.