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Vol. 90 Issue 34 • Wednesday, August 21, 2013 • www.arrowlakesnews.com • 250-265-3823 • $1.25 •
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Lightning sparks fires in Kootenay region CLAIRE PARADIS Arrow Lakes News
Spectacular lightning storms have put on a show that has had firefighters scrambling to put out spot fires in the Southeast corner of B.C. “You’re going to see a lot of helicopters in the Nakusp and New Denver area,” said Fire Information Officer Karlie Shaughnessy. The choppers usually bucket water from the Arrow Lakes for the flames, and are stationed along with acrew at a forward attack base in Nakusp. About a dozen spot fires (fires less than 0.01 hectares in size) between New Denver and Burton were on the radar of the Southeast Fire Centre the morning of Thursday, August 15, all of them caused by lightning strikes earlier in the week. Ten were active and being addressed by initial attack crews, and two were being patrolled and watched for signs they could be returning to life. All but two of the 68 active wildfires in the Southeast Fire Centre were caused by lightning. The majority of these fires are located in remote areas near Mica Creek, Revelstoke, Nakusp
and Duncan Lake. Many of the fires in the Nakusp-New Denver-Burton region are “a tree or two on fire” Shaugnessy told the Arrow Lakes News. They are all in remote areas and not threatening buildings or houses. A fire on Mount Islip was reported Aug. 12, two near Kuskanax Creek 8 kilometres up the valley were called in Aug. 13 and 14. Four fires were lit by lightning hits between St. Leon and Halfway creeks. Three spot fires were located north of Trout Lake. A 3.3 ha fire in Slewiskin north of MacDonald Creek reported on Aug. 11 is now out. One spot fire was reported Aug. 12 east of Highway 6 near Scalping Knife in Burton. Due to lack of helicopter access, a repel crew was sent in to put it out. Another fire was located near Miller Creek, and two more near Caribou Creek. A small spot fire was reported on Aug. 12 almost two km up the Little Wilson Creek Forest Service Road, but was put out and is now being patrolled. Another fire was reported near Shan-
non Creek Aug. 14. Two lightning-caused fires were seen on the west side of Slocan Lake directly across from New Denver. The largest of the Southeast fires are a 75-hectare fire 1.5 km east of the north arm of Duncan Lake; the 64.5-hectare Perry Ridge fire 4.5 km west of Winlaw (now 100-per-cent contained); a 22.6-hectare fire 35 km northeast of Revelstoke, near Jumping Creek; and a seven-hectare fire 30 km northeast of Invermere. Multiple large wildfires south of the border in Idaho may be bringing some haze on the wind to our northern mountains. The largest of these, the Pony Complex fire, has been estimated today at nearly 60,000 hectares. The Fire Danger Rating is “moderate” to “high” throughout the Southeast Fire Centre with the exception of the Cranbrook Fire Zone, which is “low” to “moderate.” As of Aug. 14, a total of 226 wildfires have burned 393 hectares in the Southeast Fire Centre. Of those fires, 192 were caused by lightning; the rest were caused by people. The Southeast Fire Centre would like
A fire burning in Slewiskin near Nakusp is one of several started by lightning. Photo courtesy Southeast Fire Centre to thank the public for its help reporting wildfires during the increased activity this past week, and for its diligence in the safe use of campfires in this period of elevated fire danger. To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.
Hop along with Toadfest at Summit Lake Contributed by Angus Glass, FWCP
Summit Lake Provincial Park, just south of Nakusp, will once again become a focal point for young and old alike wanting to help toadlets safely across Highway 6. It is the fourth annual Toadfest. It runs from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday Aug. 27, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28. The event is coordinated by the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP), with support from B.C. Parks, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO), CBT, and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (BCMOT). “This event provides an opportunity to talk to biologists, understand the life cycle of the western toad, and learn about other species in the watershed – and of course to carry a few toadlets across the road,” says Trevor Oussoren,
program manager for the FWCP (a partnership between BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., First Nations and local community groups to support fish and wildlife impacted by the construction of BC Hydro dams) in the Columbia region. Every year tens of thousands of western toadlets, each not more than the size of a dime, get squashed as they attempt their first migration from the shoreline of Summit Lake, across Highway 6, to upland habitat. In addition to helping toadlets safely across the highway, there will be other activities to see and do, including live aquatic insects, amphibians, and reptiles on display, as well as information on invasive plants, bears and other wild animals living in the region. In 2006 the B.C. Ministry of Environment and BCMOT began to address the situation through the design and installation of directional fencing and culverts
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called “toad tunnels” to safely guide the toads underneath the highway. Project partners are currently working to monitor and evaluate their effectiveness. “We want Summit Lake to remain one of the key breeding areas for western toads in the Kootenay region, and the province,” said Arrow Area Supervisor for B.C. Parks, Chris Price. “A key part in doing so is ensuring that local communities know the importance of it, and get involved in conservation efforts like this, quite literally, in a hands-on way.” To ensure the safety of event participants, traffic control, donated by Yellowhead Road and Bridge (YRB), will be in place during the scheduled times, and drivers should expect very minor delays. “Safety is paramount,” added Oussoren. “And under no circumstances should people try to move these toadlets outside of the organized event.” Camping spaces at Summit Lake Pro-
A toadlet hitches a ride across Highway 6 by Summit Lake. Photo courtesy Barb Houston vincial Park cannot be reserved. To learn more about B.C. Parks, visit www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks. The event is free and containers for carrying the toadlets across the road will be provided. Parking is limited and carpooling is encouraged. For more information about the Toadfest event visit www.fwcp.ca, or call 250-354-6333.
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