By Chad Klassen

Monte Lake fire 30% contained, residents say neighbours’ homes lost

Jul 27, 2017 | 5:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Residents of Monte Lake are nervously watching the Martin Mountain wildfire burning near the community, although the B.C. Wildfire Service says firefighters are getting the upper hand on the fire with 30 per cent containment. 

“We’ve been tremendously lucky with the winds once more,” said fire information officer Max Birkner. “Pretty low winds yesterday and same thing today. On the west side of the fire, we’ve seen rank one, smouldering ground activity. On the east side, we’ve had a little more vigorous activity.”

WATCH: Full report by Chad Klassen

The fire, which is suspected to be human-caused, sparked late Wednesday afternoon, quickly growing to more than 100 hectares in a matter of hours. It now is at 150 hectares and 58 homes that were put on evacuation order on Wednesday night remain out as crews battle the blaze. 

Boogie The Bridge

Boogie The Bridge Event Information

12h ago

Two and Out

PETERS: The Loop's eviction will show us what happens when a bandage is ripped off a gaping wound

9h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: 'Fairness' is not a word I would use to describe the federal budget

16h ago

Water skimmers could be seen dropping water on the fire nearly every minute. Four skimmers from alberta picking up water from Monte Lake and dropping it on the hot spots, one after the other. 

“CL-215 aircraft are the ones we have from Alberta right now. They pick up about 6,000 litres of water in 12 seconds,” noted Birkner. “They skim across the surface of the water, pick up that water, then they essentially become an air tanker. They drop that water on the fire.”

Some of the residents have come to Kamloops to seek refuge, but others have decided to stay. One group that was evacuated got their trailers out and decided to camp out by Monte Lake, waiting out the fire. 

“We got here as fast as we could. When we crested the corner, it was amazing what we saw. And it was all sparked by a cigarette, people. Wow, like seriously,” said one resident. “By the time it started, within an hour it had spread through the whole mountain side and we were immediately put on evacuation.”

The B.C. Wildfire Service has not determined the exact cause of the fire. It also cannot confirm the lost of homes, but residents says some of their neighbours’ places on the hill are gone. 

“My heart goes otu to my neighbours up the hill. I understand some of them have lost some structures. I just can’t say thank you enough to the forestry guys.”

Meantime, Wednesday night was a scramble for some evacuees with livestock. But Claysen Da Silva, who helped people in Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, and Loon Lake, is now assisting with livestock near Monte Lake. 

“[The fire] kicked, so I thought I would pull into this guy’s shop here and wait it out and see who needed help,” he said. “Lots of friends in this valley, so if they want out it’s comforting for them to know that someone is here with a stock trailer.”

The B.C. Wildfire Service had 26 firefighters on the scene Thursday working on further containment.