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Tuesday, July 7, 2015
WILDFIRE
Mountain fire threatens homes Sproat Lake blaze expands to nearly 100 hectares as crews struggle to contain its spread with helicopters KRISTI DOBSON ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
Since it was discovered on Saturday a fire on Dog Mountain has spread down to the shore of Sproat Lake, threatening cottages
The wildfire consuming Dog Mountain at Sproat Lake doubled in size overnight. Now at an estimated 96 hectares, the fire continues to burn aggressively. On Sunday, the fire spread down the face of the mountain, jeopardizing cabins located near the water. The RCMP assisted those with boat-only access after an evacuation notice was issued. One unoccupied cabin was destroyed by fire. According to Donna MacPherson, fire information officer at the Coastal Fire Centre, a crew of 21 and three helicopters continue efforts to contain the blaze. On Monday, structure protection units, including sprinkler systems, were established for hillside cabins bordering the lake. MacPherson said the area is hazardous with falling debris. The community has been asked to keep away from the area as helicopters drop water. Lake resident Kryssie Thomson has been able to keep the community, as well as friends and family, informed of the developments, but has been keeping her distance. “The police boats have been good at keeping people well away,” Thomson said. She said it has been both a sad
and surreal experience being so close to the devastation. “You watch things like this on the news and don’t expect it to be right in your backyard,” she said. Thomson watched as the fire spread on Sunday evening. “There were hot spots hopping town Taylor Arm and pocket fires along the shoreline of the Two Rivers side,” she said. “You could see the ground all covered in ash.” Crews also tried to contain cabins that were in jeopardy. “I saw ground crews on a deck with the Coulson helicopter working right behind them,” Thomson said. Shortly after the blaze started on Saturday, the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District activated a Level One Emergency Operations Centre. ACRD Chief Administrative Officer Russell Dyson said it enables the regional district to provide evacuation orders, which was declared by Chairperson Josie Osborne. Multi-level support includes the Sproat Lake Marine Patrol, communication to media, contact with the forest service and provision of logistics. Crews continued too cool hot spots and attempted to prevent further spreading throughout Monday. Kristi.Dobson@avtimes.net
FIREFIGHTING
Province could deploy Mars this week ‘Extraordinary situation’ by Sproat Lake leads government to reconsider aircraft Forest fire sparks air quality advisory
ERIC PLUMMER ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
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The ongoing blaze across Dog Mountain has caused fine particulate levels to rise well beyond the provincial standard for healthy air. » Alberni Region, 3
Man kills cougar in Ucluelet Shawn Hanson, a 38-year-old Victoria local, had just returned from a fishing trip when he came face to face with the large cat. » Alberni Region, 3 » Use your smartphone to jump to our Facebook page for updates on these stories or the latest breaking news.
s a forest fire rapidly spreads across Dog Mountain, thickening the Alberni Valley’s air with smoke, one question continues to burn away with many members of the public: Why are the Martin Mars water bombers sitting idle on the shore of Sproat Lake? The Hawaii and Philippine Mars bombers have not seen firefighting action in years, but this could change as early as the middle of this week with a deployment order from the province for one of the aircraft, said Wayne Coulson, CEO of the Coulson Group of Companies and owner of the two planes. When a severe fire season was expected this summer B.C.’s Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations contracted the Hawaii Mars in case its 27,200-litre drop capacity was needed. “We have a contract with the government for the Mars and all we are waiting for is for them to order us up,” said Coulson in an email to the Times, adding that the air tanker could be serviceable by Wednesday or Thursday. “The Mars has been offered to the gov-
The Hawaii Mars water bomber sits by Sproat Lake Saturday afternoon, shortly before a nearby fire was discovered on Dog Mountain. [CHRIS BOAR, CB
ernment starting three months ago, when the government agency fire predictive models were indicating the B.C. coast was going to experience a bad wildfire season.” “While there are more cost-effective option available, in the right circumstances, it can now be called on to supplement the air tanker fleet,” stated the Ministry
of Forests. “Given the extraordinary situation and in recognizing that public safety is paramount, we’ve been looking at all available options outside of our current resources.” Last year was particularly bad for wildfires when 369,169 hectares of forest was affected across the province. After years of service
the provincial contract with the Hawaii Mars was discontinued in 2014 when the Ministry of Forests opted to rely on smaller planes provided by Abbotsford-based Conair. These planes are less cumbersome, cost-effective and more versatile than the Hawaii Mars, stated the ministry. But with fires spreading across the province frustrations grew that the Hawaii Mars, which is the world’s largest water bomber, was not part of the firefighting fleet. Criticism of the government’s refusal to launch the Hawaii Mars has continued this summer – especially from Sproat Lake residents, who are watching the Dog Mountain forest fire grow seemingly unhindered by the province’s suppression efforts. “I witnessed first-hand today five small helicopters with monsoon buckets (pee cans), two Aurora water bombers and a spotter plane waste a ton of that budget in a futile effort to try and control or put out what started as a very small forest fire at Sproat Lake,” wrote Bob Cole in an open letter directed to Minister of Forests Steve Thomson. See BOMBER, Page 3
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