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Your guide to the 141st Chilliwack Fair.
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Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • T U E S D AY, A U G U S T 6 , 2 0 1 3
Gas detectors keeping CRV crews safe Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
Continued: CRVFD/ p4
Sgt. Steve Jacobi from the Conservation Officer Service says the young cougar was about 18 months old and weighed 30-40 lbs. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Single bullet ends cougar threat Alina Konevski The Progress An aggressive cougar that forced the closure of Teapot Hill last week was shot and killed at the edge of Entrance Bay Campground in Cultus Lake Provincial Park on Thursday. The animal was “holding hostage” a family of four, including two young girls on the Seven Sisters trail, about 20 metres up from the campground. The cougar was hissing and growling. “It was actually really close to the trail and wouldn’t let the people come down,” said conservation officer Sgt. Steve Jacobi.
Local B.C. Parks ranger, Robert Wilson, immediately responded to the emergency call, which came in just before 3 p.m. With 9-1-1 operators on the phone, Wilson was first on scene. He fired one shot, killing the cougar instantly. “I just assessed the situation, made sure it would be safe to shoot it, and unfortunately had to do exactly that,” said Wilson. “Obviously, I would much rather have to deal with killing a cougar than trying to explain to some parents why we allowed the cougar to continue on with this pattern of aggressive behaviour, and had that opportunity, and not take it, and have it hurt a small child or a
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small pet.” Authorities received about a dozen complaints about an aggressive cougar in less than two days, which Jacobi said is “extremely rare.” The animal caused chaos on Wednesday when it approached several hikers in a threatening fashion. The cougar chased one woman, causing the evacuation and closure of the Teapot Hill trail. People saw the cougar passing through campgrounds at Cultus Lake Wednesday night and Thursday morning. “After that, we started bringing out the bloodhounds, and chasing the cougar, and trying to find it,”
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said Jacobi. The chase has now ended. “We’re confident that this is the one that’s been causing the grief over the past couple of days,” said Jacobi. The cougar is about 18 months old, thin, and weighs 30 to 40 pounds. It was likely recently set loose by its mother, and was trying to figure out roaming territory. Authorities haven’t checked yet if it is a male or female. “Due to its obvious emaciation, it looks like it was having trouble finding actual food,” said Wilson. “It was looking for easy prey, and people’s dogs are typically easy Continued: COUGAR/ p4
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The gas detection meter is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. It’s already making a big difference for fire crews in the Chilliwack River Valley, who are sometimes required to enter a space filled with dangerous gases. Chilliwack River Valley Fire Department crews are now able to detect these substances with the specialized equipment, thanks to a recent donation by the Chilliwack Kiwanis Club. “It’s quite a valuable tool because the substances it detects, we can’t always see,” said Mike Danyluk, assistant chief with the CRVFD. The meters are designed to warn fire crews of the presence of gases, from dangerously low oxygen levels to leaks from flammable gas, carbon monoxide, H2S and more. Two gas detection meters and a calibration device were just purchased with $2,200 donated by the Kiwanis to CRV Fire Department. “We work on a very limited budget as a volunteer fire department,” Danyluk said. “There are often unexpected expenses like this.” It’s reassuring to know they’re covered now. “When we go to these calls now, we will enter the environment with full oxygen tanks on. “We’ll bring along the detector