Helicopters were brought in to pound water onto the fire at Gogo's Tree Farm. (David Gogo/Facebook)

By Spencer Sterritt

blaze

Quick response keeps tree farm fire contained

Jul 27, 2021 | 1:50 PM

NANAIMO — Volunteer firefighters are credited with keeping a blaze south of Nanaimo from causing significant destruction to a tree farm.

The Extension Volunteer Fire Department was called to Gogo’s Christmas Tree Farm on Monday, July 26 just after the peak heats of the day. They and the B.C. Wildfire Service fought the fire all night and kept it from growing beyond 0.6 hectares.

David Gogo, who’s family owns the farm and many surrounding properties, said the quick response from Extension volunteer firefighters helped save their vast forest.

“An amazingly quick response made it not a good situation but something which could have been a hell of a lot worse.”

Two helicopters were brought in to dump water on the fire, which Gogo said helped considerably and put his family at ease that the fire wouldn’t spread.

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The blaze broke out at the top of a hill, which is normally quite windy but was calm on Monday.

Gogo said tinder-dry conditions have kept them on edge.

“It’s always in the back of our mind when we live where we live, especially with the current climate conditions. It’s still only July and we’ve still got August and probably September to worry about these things. But it’s good to know we’ve got a great group of people responding.”

B.C. Wildfire Service crews are keeping an eye on the scene to extinguish hotspots and prevent flare-ups.

— with files from Ian Holmes

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spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt