Gazette Grand Forks
Grant for Tot Lot Page A3
Like us on
Your community voice since 1897
Follow us on
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015
$1.10 (includes tax)
Perfect Location!
1424 73rd Ave. Grand Forks
$182,900
Brian Thate 250-442-7370
www.brianthate.com LITTLE OAK REALTY
THISTLE POT GIFTS
25-50% OFF Selected
Home & Garden Décor Hurry in for best selection. Special ends Sept 8.
TPG 337 Market Ave. Downtown Grand Forks 250.442.1214
See you at the
Grand Forks Fall Fair! Check pages
A7 - A9
for schedule of events
VOL 118 NO. 34
Horse excellence Page A21
Stickpin fire over 19,000 hectares CRAIG LINDSAY
Grand Forks Gazette
Despite the public meetings held in Grand Forks and Christina Lake regarding the wildfires and the protocol regarding evacuations if it arises, the fires around the area have not grown significantly in the last few days. Currently, there have been no evacuation alerts or orders as of yet for Grand Forks and area. There is a second public meeting regarding the Stickpin fire on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at Grand Forks at 6 p.m. at the high school and at Christina Lake at 8 p.m. at the community hall. The Stickpin fire is now at 19,244 hectares (ha) and is 15 per cent contained. Firelines on the western edge are holding. Crews continue to strengthen the lines. On the southern perimeter, dozer lines are being constructed Smoke persists but are indirect. The smoke that is On Sunday, 33 covering Grand Forks BC wildfire ser- and much of the intevice firefighters rior is expected to last and three officers at least until Thursday or Friday. Tarek Ayache, began fire sup- air quality meteorolopression activities gist for the BC Ministry on the Stickpin of Environment, said wildfire in Wash- the wind pattern we ington State. are experiencing is to persist They are respon- expected for the next couple of sible for Branch 3, days. also known as the “We’re not in the Canadian branch, clear,” he said. “The on the northeast smoke is going to linger portion of the for the next couple of days at least. There fire. Objectives might be some relief include develop- by the weekend with ing situational a new weather system and operational with some precipitaawareness for the tion.” first days on the fire, identifying fire lines and determining strategies and tactics moving forward. On Monday, crews continued to create guard lines and fuel free areas on the northeast side of the fire, and began preparing for burn off operations along these lines. There was some minimal growth on the northwest side of the fire • See WILDFIRES page A14
John MacLean, Emergency Operations Centre director, addresses a full house at Grand Forks Secondary School during the RDKB’s public meeting held on Thursday. Another meeting will be held tonight (Wednesday) at 6 p.m. at GFSS, followed by another at the Christina Lake Community Hall tonight at 8 p.m. Craig Lindsay photo
Concerned citizens pack gym Public meeting addresses fears about wildfires CRAIG LINDSAY
Grand Forks Gazette
John MacLean, Emergency Operations Centre director and RDKB CAO, led a public meeting at Grand Forks Secondary School on Thursday regarding the wildfire situation in and around Grand Forks. Speaking to the crowd were Frank Konrad, Grand Forks mayor; Grace McGregor, RDKB board chair/Area C Christina Lake director; Roly Russell, RDKB Area D/Rural Grand Forks director; Alvin Boyer, BC Wildfire Services; Tony Falco, BC Wildfire Services incident commander; Gord Parker, Office of the Fire Commissioner; and MacLean. The same group spoke at Christina Lake that same evening except without Konrad and Russell, and Pat McPhillips filling in for Parker representing the office of the fire commissioner. Approximately 500 people showed up at the meeting in Grand Forks, while 300 were at Christina Lake. The speakers urged people to be calm but ready as they provided updates on the wildfires that could have an impact on both communities. Updates were provided on
the Rock Creek fire and the more worrisome fire in the U.S. known as the Kettle Complex (Stickpin), located just south of Grand Forks. “We’re here to give you as much information as we can about the fire situation in the basin for the summer,” said MacLean, in his opening remarks to the crowd. “We have our partners from the BC Wildfire management branch, Office of the Fire Commissioner and the Ministry of Transportation. We’re all working together to ensure we can get through this as safe as we can.” MacLean told residents that preparations for evacuation plans have been put in place for both areas, although at this time Grand Forks is of less concern than the Cascade Ponderosa and Santa Rosa areas of Christina Lake. MacLean noted that there are two levels of evacuation: alert and order. An evacuation alert means residents should be ready to evacuate. An evacuation order means residents must leave their homes immediately and vacate the area using local roads and Highway 3. Evacuees are required to report to the Trail Memorial Arena (1051 Victoria St.).
He stressed that at this time neither area is under any evacuation alerts. If it happens, the evacuation alert would be posted on the RDKB website (RDKB.com), Twitter and through the radio. For both evacuation levels, RCMP officers will go door to door to alert each resident. Boyer from BC Wildfire Service said that the region has 135 wildfires to date, well above the average of 35. He said that all the fires have really pushed firefighting resources to their limit. “We’ve had to prioritize the fires so we can get to the fires that are affecting people and properties firstly,” he said. “Right now we have 18 fires burning within the zones.” Tony Falco, incident commander, told the crowd the Stickpin fire is about four kilometres from the Canadian border near Grand Forks. “It hasn’t moved very much in the last few days,” he said. “One large reason is the old fire site it’s run into just south of town. That’s really good for us. That’s really slowed it down.” He said the fire is more active on the other side (east) and that they expect the fire to grow. • See PUBLIC MEETING page A14
“It’s your move – I can help you!”
SPACIOUS FAMILY HOME with downstairs suite! 7598 21st St. Grand Forks. $359,900.
RE-ZONING OPPORTUNITY! 2585 Central Ave. Grand Forks. $269,900.
“Get your home on the
RIVER FRONTAGE! 940 Carl Ave. Grand Forks. $238,900.
map!”
PERFECT FAMILY HOME! 8000 Pineview Cres. Grand Forks $269,900.
Brian Thate 250-442-7370
SPACIOUS YARD! 6379 12th St. Grand Forks. $135,000.
www.brianthate.com Little Oak Realty
BEAUTIFUL RURAL SETTING! 1340 Gilpin Rd. Grand Forks. $299,900.
Second Class Registration # PM0034