‘It grew incredibly quickly’; Logan Lake residents describe fast-spreading Guichon Creek fire

“It was pretty scary [but] it looks much better than it did yesterday. Obviously with the winds and all of these sorts of things, anything can happen and change at any time.”

In an update Thursday morning, the BC Wildfire Service said the fire was burning Rank 2 and 3, meaning a surface fire with some open flame, occasional candling and a slow-to-moderate rate of spread. It is down from the Rank 3 and 4 behaviour reported Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday, the BC Wildfire Service deployed a team of skimmers and air tankers dropping water and retardant, as well as 24 firefighters. Skimmers, air tankers, firefighters and heavy equipment teams were back on site Thursday.

“[Wednesday], we assisted Logan Lake Fire Department with ground and aerial resources,” the BC Wildfire Service said in a statement. “Overnight, personnel remained on site with heavy equipment building guard and working on containment.”

Smith said the BC Wildfire Service “came in really fast and really hard and knocked [the flames] down really good.

“I was so happy to see so many planes in the air,” Smith added. “It was the most coordinated… you know I jokingly said we had our own private air show.”

An RJ85 air tanker dropping retardant on the Guichon Creek fire in Logan Lake. (Image Credit: Kent Simmonds/CFJC Today)

“I like seeing the guys work. Terrifying to see the fire,” Logan Lake resident Chris Maude told CFJC Today. “Every bucket of water that goes on there makes me feel very, very happy.”

“We sat here and watched it jump the highway up toward the transfer station and it was terrifying how quickly it can move.”

Chris and his wife, Pamela, were joined by several other Logan Lakers who gathered to watch the frantic fire fight on Wednesday afternoon. Others did so on Thursday, and sat in their vehicles and marveled at in sync the planes and helicopters were.

“It brings back too many memories from the fire back in 2021,” added Rebecca Fox. “It’s hard to explain the feeling that you get seeing the fires around. It’s scary. It’s unbelievable how fast they got planes on it, so it’s incredible what they’re doing.”

Logan Lake Fire Rescue also responded to the blaze, which led to a brief Wednesday afternoon closure on Highway 97C between the community and the Highland Valley Copper Mine.

“So that was a day,” Logan Lake Fire Rescue said in a Wednesday evening Facebook post. “The fire is still very active and Logan Lake Fire Rescue has a team all night watching as well as BC wildland crews.”

In a subsequent post Thursday, it said crews would be working on lots of hot spots.

“As of right now, there was no growth over night but you will see plenty of smoke and possibly some flames,” the post said. “Please avoid Tunkwa Lake Road and [Highway] 97C up to the TNRD Transfer Station.

“Check on your neighbours and try not to worry or panic.”

While no structures were being immediately threatened, the fire did prompt evacuation alerts affecting about 56 properties in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the District of Logan Lake.

“I am one of those homes in that area [and] its mainly because we only have one road in and one road out,” Smith said. “So really that was out of an abundance of caution. We are somewhat cautiously optimistic at the moment but also watching the fire very, very carefully.”

Logan Lake mayor Robin Smith (Image Credit: Kent Simmonds/CFJC Today)

Brad Painter and his family were also watching the flames in Logan Lake on Wednesday afternoon. The family was evacuated from Clinton last Friday and they initially fled to Loon Lake, then Kamloops and they finally made their way to Logan Lake.

“We just unpacked last night,” Painter told CFJC Today. “We’re staying with friends and all of a sudden, we’re now packing very fast. We’re just kind of nervous that everything is coming too hot and too fast, so we’re being ready for whatever happens next.”

Painter said his family didn’t see a whole of destruction in Clinton as they left right away when the order was issued. However, he added he’s aware of “a lot of losses” in the community.

“The whole town is not in great shape to be honest, but a lot of people got lucky,” Painter said. “Happy to say there are no fatalities that I’ve heard of.”

The Guichon Creek fire is believed to be human-caused, but the BC Wildfire Service has not narrowed down a more specific cause yet.

“God, why can’t we be more careful?” Maude added. “Don’t throw you cigarettes on the ground, don’t throw your bottles out in the woods. They’ve had campfire bans and yet they gave out how many tickets over the weekend?“

“Be smart. You may not live here, but we do.”

CFJC Today Guichon Creek Story 12 p.m. July 30

by Victor Kaisar

‘It grew incredibly quickly’; Logan Lake residents describe fast-spreading Guichon Creek fire

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