British Columbia Canada State of Emergency

[canuk01]

Hi Everyone from a very smoky CYKA,

At 0800 hrs this morning the province has issued a State of Emergency. We have 220 Wildfires burning. We have over 2000 firemen on the ground trying to hold the fires and loosing. we have got fleets of helicopters and Water bombers deployed trying to hold the line and not winning.

At a place called Cache Creek, 100 km west of Kamloops the small GA airport destroyed and the aircraft too. At the city of Williams Lake 3 hours drive north, the whole airport has been evacuated. The airport is almost surrounded by a wall of fire.

Here in Kamloops tonight we have 4 Convair 580 from Conair, 5 AT 802A from Conair, 3 x Rockwell 690 of Conair. We also have 4 Lockheed Electra Water Bombers. 1 from Conair and 3 from Air Spray ( Alberta )

We are expecting more tomorrow and on Monday more aircraft will arrive from Saskachewan.

I will do my best to try and get some photographs for the group, but the airport is almost at 24 hours firefighting operations now and the scheduled traffic is taking second place to the fire tankers. I expect soon the police will put in restrictions on access to the airport, but I will try my best for the group to get some pictures.

If anyone is interested, if you Google, British Columbia Wildfires, there are some quite dramatic pictures of what the firemen are up against.

Our own evacuation kit is packed and the car is full of petrol as the winds are easterly and we don't know what the next few days will bring.

Paul

[deteulada]

Thoughts with you and your family Paul together with the people of British Columbia, fire fighters, air crews and all other emergency services.   Such devastating news.  

Bill

[kevmul]

A dreadful situation - we're catching bits on our UK news channels.

Hope this gets sorted out with no loss of life, Paul.

Kev

[jetdragon]

Plenty of experience with bushfires here in Oz - effects are fast and devastating

stay safe Paul

JD

[ian531]

Hi Paul

Look after yourself and keep safe

Ian

[canuk01]

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for your kind words. An update for you.

At 2030 local time on Sunday 9th July the province now has 230 Wildfires burning. ( Another 10 since Friday )

More ground and air assets arrive tomorrow.

Paul

[canuk01]

Hi Everyone,

Update for the group. 19th July 2017

375,000 hectares destroyed, 49,000 people displaced or evacuated, 135 fires still burning, 18 of them causing serious concern. Air quality in places off the scale. The city of Willams Lake, ( 11,000 people ), 100% evacuated.

Paul

[ian531]

Thanks for the update - keep safe

Ian

[jetdragon]

Contingent of firefighters on its way from Oz to help out

link

[jetdragon]

How's it going over there Paul - any sign of the situation easing yet?

[canuk01]

Hi Everyone from a very smokey CYKA,

An update for you, 135 fires still burning. No rain for the past 6 weeks. Air quality really bad. The normal reading should be about 2 on the scale, yesterday we passed 10 and in some parts it is approaching 17or 18. We have about 200 fixed and rotary wing aircraft tackling this huge problem. We have firefighters from all across Canada, some from New Zealand and Australia. Last night we heard on the news that more are coming from the USA and 100 from Mexico and more will come if needed. We also had 4 more Cl 215 from the province of Quebec arrive. The crews are getting tired and are in need of rest. I suppose that is why the Government has asked for more International support. The cost so far has been estimated to be $ 188 Million dollars. The cost I am sure will pass the $ 200 million mark very soon. Further update to follow. Paul