Wednesday Aug. 13, 2014 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
Crews mop up small wildfire By Barb Brouwer obServer STAFF
The no-fire ring around Salmon Arm has been broken. A Wildfire branch helicopter returning to the Salmon Arm Airport Sunday evening spotted a fire in larch Hills. A five-person initial attack crew from Kamloops was sent in and by Tuesday morning, the fire was in patrol stage. because of its location and the extreme fire risk, a three-person crew headed up yesterday to walk through the area to make sure there are no hot spots. “It’s probably anywhere between 20 metres by 20 metres,” said fire protection officer larry osachoff Monday morning, noting the fire was a holdover lightning strike from July 23 and that a 3,000 gallon water tank had been sent up to the scene. “It dug itself in pretty good.” Two lightning caused fires reported last week are now under aircraft patrol. Wildfire officials have been pleased with the public’s response about a fire prohibition – up until recently. “We’re starting to see issues around,” said osachoff, noting patrols are picking up one or two campfire contraventions a day. “They’re saying ‘we’re oK, we don’t have to abide by the rules.’” osachoff says a Scotch creek property owner had a campfire going on the weekend and, when confronted, said it was for cooking purposes, an excuse that did not impress osachoff. “There’s a house and two trailers and all the apparatuses you need to cook.” osachoff says there will be follow up, perhaps in the form of a non-compliance ticket. “People do get the message when they receive the $345 ticket,” he said. A fire Saturday at Marble Point Provincial Park was not the result of a campfire but was definitely person-caused. “The majority of people are being really good on and around the lake, but we’re still finding there are houseboat and regular boat users still using campfires and fireworks and I know parks branch is getting frustrated,” osachoff said. He noted that houseboat companies have been See Burning on page A2
James murray/obServer
Hopping off
Gabrielle Heiss dismounts from her horse Candy at the annual 4-H Summer Sizzler equine program held Aug. 6 to 10 at the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds. To view more images from the event, check out page A12 or www.saobserver.net.
ER copes with extra cases By Barb Brouwer obServer STAFF
All was quiet on the er front Monday morning; but the emergency ward at Shuswap lake General Hospital was hopping on the weekend. A sign posted at triage and in the waiting room advised would-be patients that the Shuswap lake General’s emergency room was 27.5 per cent over capacity, resulting in long wait times.
This week The Roots and Blues Festival will fill the city with music this weekend. See A18 for details. Cyclists arrive in Salmon Arm to raise funds and awareness of ALS. See story on A8.
“That’s very much summer in the Shuswap,” said Thompson-cariboo– Shuswap acute care director Peter du Toit Monday morning. “but things are back to normal.” du Toit agreed last week was an extremely busy one for the er, as it almost always is after the August long weekend, when people are out enjoying the lake – something that increases the chance for accidents or overexposure to sun. “As the town gets busy, we get busy,”
he said, pointing out the reasons for going to er are varied and that staff prepared for the increased summer activity. “We brought in an additional doctor in emerg as well as extra nurses and clerical staff.” “I am very glad to say staff and the doctors have pulled together in terms of providing good patient care,” du Toit said, noting visits to er are being tracked and will be correlated in the fall – after the rush dies down.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Time Out................... A10 Life & Times ............. A12 Sports................A15-A17 Arts & Events ... A18-A22 Vol. 107, No. 33, 44 pages