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Monday, July 13, 2015
» Wildfire
CITY
Water limits rise a stage ERIC PLUMMER ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
The Mars bomber made everyone look up into the sky as the rumble was heard and a test run was completed over Centennial Pier on Friday. The decision to deploy the water bomber was made last week due to the growth of the Dog Mountain forest fire by Sproat Lake [R&B PHOTOS]
Dog Mountain fire 100% contained
Crews put out blaze but experts warn public to stay clear of the area KRISTI DOBSON ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
It was what the community was waiting to hear. By Saturday, the Coastal Fire Centre’s fire information officer Marg Drysdale confirmed the Dog Mountain Fire 100 per cent contained. Although the Mars water bomber was not used on this wildfire, the plane gave Port Alberni a hero’s welcome by flying over the city and performing a test run over Harbour Quay on Friday. Heads turned to the sky and people rushed outside to have a look. Over the weekend, 11 people remained on site to check for hot spots. There were also two boats for transport and to patrol the area.
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Drysdale said her most important message was to remind the public to keep away from the area. “I want to warn everyone that the slopes are not stable,” Drysdale said. “There is debris coming off and with this rain, it might loosen it more.” She said there have been people taking photos daily, but warns the area is still dangerous. There is 24-hour patrols on site, as well as the RCMP to keep a watch on the cabins. “We have experts on site and we really need people to stay back,” Drysdale said. The second staged ignition on Thursday was the key to containing the fire, Drysdale said.
“I want to warn everyone that the slopes are not stable. There is debris coming off and with this rain, it might loosen it more.” Marg Drysdale, fire information officer
“It did really well,” she said. “The understory was burned out and it was almost textbook.” There is still risk of hot spots occurring and patrols will continue to monitor the situation. In total, the fire grew to an estimated 450 hectares. Despite its size, Drysdale said
Locals support forest firefighters
it will not look like an eyesore on Sproat Lake. “People have the idea that it is a blackened doom but we want them to know that most trees remain and there is still a lot of green. Residents also noticed a change for the better in air quality on Friday. The Wildfire Smoke Advisory was lifted and air quality levels returned to normal. The rain on the weekend helped to dampen the Valley but residents are reminded to wait until further notice from City officials regarding water restrictions and the ACRD for parks and trail closures. Kristi.Dobson@avtimes.net 250-723-8171 ext. 238
After more than two months of drought the city is imposing more stringent limits on outdoor water usage. Stage 2 water restrictions begin today, a measure that limits sprinklers to just two days a week for residents. Lawn and garden sprinklers can now only be used on Wednesdays and Saturdays for even-numbered addresses, while odd numbers are limited to Thursday and Sundays. Since early June residents have been permitted to turn on their sprinklers from 6 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m., but the new restrictions allow a home to only water once, either in the morning or evening on an allotted day. City engineer Guy Cicon said that the natural reservoirs of Bainbridge and Lizard lakes are still full, but the water flowing over the city’s dam at China Creek had declined. “The concern is at the China Creek Dam, where the intake is,” he said. “What’s happening now is that there is minimal flow going over.” In May Port Alberni received just 1.4 millimetres of rain, the lowest since precipitation began being measured in 1917. June brought little rainfall, and until a brief sun shower occurred on Friday evening no rain had fallen in July. Before Stage 1 restrictions were introduced on June 8 the city’s average daily usage was 17,000 cubic metres, equal to 950 litres of water per resident. This has since declined, and by tightening the restrictions the city hopes to see change in one factor affecting the water supply the community actually has control over: usage habits. “Consumption is a main element, and it’s only down six per cent,” Cicon said. “We’d like to see that tapering off more.” The hand watering of vegetable gardens, planters, shrubs and trees is still permitted every day from 6-9 a.m. and 7-10 p.m., as long as a bucket or hose with a nozzle is used for no more than two hours. Car washing is allowed using a bucket or hose with a nozzle. Eric.Plummer@avtimes.net
Young bald eagle recovers from abandonment
Donations have piled up to help feed the Alberni Valley’s Thunderbirds and other personnel who have been battling the blaze on Dog Mountain. »Alberni Region, 3
This juvenile bald eagle was admitted to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre when it was found on the
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