Cottonwood opens for season PAGE A3
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Call out for heavy equipment
Trinity Lutheran celebrates 50 years
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VOL. 101 NO. 72
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AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter With wildfire activity already picking up, the Wildfire Centre is looking to hire heavy equipment operators. “Specifically the centre is looking at bulldozers, excavators, low-bed trailers, water tenders, feller bunchers, skidders, forwarders, etc.) for the 2015 season,” fire information officer Emily Koch said. Koch spoke to the current wildfire activity approximately 100 kilometres Northwest of the Gold Pan City (Little Bobtail Lake Fire). “There’s a lot of smoke coming from that particular fire,” she said. “It’s spreading throughout the Cariboo, especially in Quesnel.” The fire was discovered May 9 and currently is an estimated 3,500 hectares. Activity has increased due to high temperatures and an evacuation order is in effect, affecting 80 people. “Crews are currently working on it,” Koch said. “With more crews arriving overnight and today (Tuesday). We’re looking at approximately 100 people.” Koch said while it’s normal for fire activity in May, the size and activity of the Prince George fire is “quite early.” Hence the need for preparedness. “The Cariboo Fire Centre wants to ensure they are prepared for whatever type of fire season this summer brings,” she said. The amount of equipment necessary is dictated by fire activity. The ideal level of preparedness is to have four to six pieces of equipment available to hire for each of the Cariboo Fire Centre’s four planning zones (Quesnel, 100 Mile, the Chilcotin and Williams Lake/Horsefly). The fire centre relies on local contractors to supplement their fire suppression resources with the use of heavy equipment. “We haven’t received the same amount of offers we usually do, so this year we’re reminding people that we would like to hire their equipment,” Koch said. If you are interested in making your equipment available for hire during the 2015 fire season, please contact the Logistics Section for more information. (250-989-2621; carlogs@gov.bc.ca)
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QRP fire Three fire engines and 14 firefighters responded to a fire at Quesnel River Pulp. “There was a small fire on the fourth floor,” fire chief Sylvain Gauthier said. Crews battled the blaze for approximately two and a half hours. No injuries were reported. Karen Powell photo
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