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Fire season 2009 will go down in history as one of the busiest due to exceptional weather and fire behaviour conditions. The season started early due to above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. As early as May, crews were battling multiple fires of note that threatened communities.
Typical June rains arrived weeks later than usual and below seasonal averages. On July 18, fires broke out in the Glenrosa and Rose Valley communities of West Kelowna, garnishing huge public and media attention. These two fires, combined with the Terrace Mountain fire west of Fintry, led to multiple evacuation orders and alerts. Fortunately, only three structures were lost on the very first day of the Glenrosa fire.
July also saw an abundance of lightning storms leading to other fires of note throughout the province. Temperatures continued to break record highs and little precipitation was received in most areas. As September began, all personnel continued to work hard to contain fires across the Kamloops and Cariboo regions. At a time when the fire season is normally wrapping up, six fires still had people out of their homes or ready to leave at a moment’s notice; the largest – the Lava Canyon fire – was nearly 55,000 hectares and growing.
As fall settled in, cooler temperatures and more precipitation finally came to the central and south interior. By mid-September fire activity slowed, evacuation orders and alerts were rescinded, and crews from out-of-province returned home. Fire season 2009 has been one of the worst in B.C.’s history, with a record number of fires and total hectares burned well above average. Another record was set in the amount of money spent. The cost of direct firefighting for the season is nearly $400 million, surpassing not only the average fire season price tag of $115.9 million, but also the previous record of most expensive season, which was during Firestorm 2003.
During the fire season, Wildfire Management Branch resources, contract fire fighters and newly trained emergency fire fighters were used to their full capacity. Over 2,500 personnel assisted from out of province, including over 1,800 firefighters. Resources were brought in from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and the United States. For the first time, we also had 25 fire specialists from the State of Victoria, Australia, and six personnel from New Zealand to aid in fire suppression efforts.
There were over 100 notable fires during this fire season: at least 27 caused evacuation orders and at least a dozen more caused evacuation alerts. While the season was long and exhausting, thankfully there was nowhere near the terrible destruction seen in 2003. Sadly, one helicopter pilot lost his life in the line of duty.
Notable 2009 Fires
Kamloops Fire Centre:
- 400 hectare fire at Glenrosa, west Kelowna; three structures lost.
- 200 hectare fire Rose Valley Dam, west Kelowna; led to multiple evacuations.
- 9,277 hectare fire, Terrace Mountain, west of Fintry; multiple communities evacuated.
- 8,045 hectare Tyaughton Lake fire, north of Goldbridge; multiple communities evacuated.
- 3,696 hectare Mount McLean fire, west of Lillooet; led to evacuations and local state of emergency.
- 1,597 hectare fire at Intlpam, between Lytton and Lillooet.
- 2,042 Hell Creek fire, in the Yalakom Valley; led to evacuation orders
- 3,025 hectare fire at Brookmere, 42 km south of Merritt; led to evacuation order for community of Brookmere.
- 1,753 hectare Seton Portage fire, southwest of Lillooet; three structures lost.
- 7,014 hectare fire at Big Dog Mountain, Yalakom Valley.
- 6,045 hectare Little Dog Mountain fire, Yalakom Valley.
- 625 hectare Scottie Creek fire, 20 km north of Cache Creek; led to evacuation.
Cariboo Fire Centre:
- 1,000 hectare fire at 70 mile house; two homes lost.
- 15 hectare fire at Buffalo Creek, northeast of 100 mile house; two homes lost.
- 6,618 hectare Kluskus fire, west of Quesnel
- 66,719 hectare (667 square kilometres) fire at Lava Canyon, in the Chilcotin; largest fire of the season, and led to evacuation orders and alerts.
- 20,925 hectare (209 square kilometres) fire at Kelly Creek, in Edgehills Provincial Park, 20 km southwest of Clinton; two structures were lost.
Coastal Fire Centre:
- 30 hectare Blackcomb Mountain fire; caused an evacuation of the mountain.
- 850 and 823 hectare Pemberton Meadow complex fires; led to evacuation orders and area closures.
- 368 hectare fire at Nuxalk Mountain; evacuated the community of Bella Coola
Prince George:
- 23,182 hectare fire at Junction of Smith and Liard River; second largest fire of the season, which closed the Alaska Highway and caused the evacuation of three small communities.
Number of Fires
- By Cause:
- 856 caused by people
- 2,182 caused by lightning
- By Fire Centre:
- Coastal: 528
- Northwest: 143
- Prince George: 318
- Kamloops: 1,016
- Southeast: 586
- Cariboo: 449
- Total: 3,040 Fires
Related Information
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