LOCAL NEWS: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING ▼ A7
Times
Thursday, June 18, 2015 ▼ Volume 51 No. 25 ▼ www.clearwatertimes.com ▼ $1.35 Includes GST
THE
NORTH THOMPSON
OPEN WOUND:
2014
CCNA BLUE RIBBON
Lightening strikes tree. See A9 inside.
First Place Best All Round Newspaper & Best Editorial Page Second Place Best Front Page All of Canada <1,250 circulation 2014 First Place General Excellence B.C. and Yukon <2,000 circulation 2014
Risk of dry summer persists Times Staff Recent data of water flows in the Clearwater River and snowpack in the middle of Wells Gray Park do not indicate that the risk of a dry summer for the upper North Thompson Valley is lessening, according to Michael Allchin. “You'll see that the Clearwater River looks to have peaked about two to three weeks earlier than the long-term average profile, and flows have now already dived to below those on the same date in both 2003 and 2004,” he said, referring to a graph showing water flows in the river.
He added that the Kostal snow pillow in Wells Gray Park is reporting zero remaining snowpack, about three weeks before the long-term average date on which this occurs, and the earliest this has been observed at this site. “Unless there is substantial persistent rainfall during the next few weeks, it looks quite likely that the river will drop to the lowest summer flows ever recorded in the gauge's 100-year history, possibly as early as the beginning of July,” Allchin said. The Clearwater resident is presently doing research towards a Ph.D. from UNBC.
A fire Sunday evening destroys a home on Clearwater Station Road. A truck and a travel trailer were destroyed in the fire as well as a shed. Photo submitted
Fire destroys home on Clearwater Station Road Keith McNeill A pile of rubble is all that remains of a home on Sunday, June 14, following an overnight fire. According to a neighbour, the fire began in a nearby shed and then spread into the main house. The home's two occupants escaped, apparently unharmed, after
being awakened by another neighbour. Clearwater Volunteer Fire Department received a report that a shed was on fire at 147 Station Road at 12:24 a.m., said fire chief Mike Smith. Upon arrival, the firefighters found the blaze had spread into the house. The fire spread quickly inside the house
and was difficult to fight, he said, due to the building's age and the presence of a metal roof. The two occupants had been alerted by a neighbour and had gotten out of the house before it became involved. The couple appeared to be unharmed but badly shaken by the experience. A total of
15 firefighters, including three from Blackpool Volunteer Fire Department under mutual aid, helped to control the fire. A truck and a travel trailer were destroyed, as well as the shed and house. Smith said he was unaware if any pets had been lost or were missing. Cause of the fire continues to be under investigation.
Snow pillow near Kostal Lake in Wells Gray Park shows the snow has gone about three weeks earlier than normal. Submitted graphics
Highway 5 Little Fort, BC 250-677-4441
Highway 5 Clearwater, BC 250-674-3148
Located on Highway 5