Crews battle blazes south and north of town

Powell River firefighters battled two blazes almost simultaneously north and south of town, Thursday afternoon, July 16.

“It was a couple of good saves,” said Ryan Thoms, manager of emergency services for Powell River Regional Emergency Program.

As volunteer fire departments from both south and north went to work, Powell River resident Joseph McLean, listening to scanner reports from the fire crews, updated Fire Watch Powell River, a Facebook page he started recently in light of this summer’s challenging fire season.

South of town, on Tuck Road, off Dixon Road near Lang Bay, fire razed a workshop on private property then spread to other structures nearby before moving into the brush. Malaspina Volunteer Fire Department saved the house, Thoms said.

“There was a significant structure loss to an outbuilding, but the main house was saved, so that was a victory there,” he said, of the fire discovered around 3 pm. However, the house did receive smoke damage and the family was evacuated by Emergency Support Services overnight.

RCMP and BC Hydro were also on the scene. Crews, assisted by two BC Wildfire Service water bomber helicopters, doused the fire which helped bring it under control quickly. Once the Tuck Road fire had been knocked down, the helicopters moved north.

Northside and Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation fire departments as well as provincial wildfire management branch attended a brush fire reported along the side of Highway 101 near Atrevida Road, about half way between Powell River and Lund, at approximately 3:30 pm. Traffic along the highway was blocked.

The fire was on the north side of the road and Thoms said there were no evacuations. By 7:30 pm the fire had been knocked down and while it was not completely out it was under control, he added. “It was lucky considering the wind. It was one of those scary afternoons when you get temperature and wind like that.” It was these factors which aided the spread of the fires in Sechelt and Nanaimo, he said.

Thoms said that crews would continue to mop up both fires into the evening and watch for hot spots.

The cause of the fires is yet to be confirmed.

Powell River firefighters battled two blazes, Thursday afternoon, July 16.

Crews from Northside and Sliammon fire departments attended a brush fire reported along the side of Highway 101 near Atrevida Road at approximately 3:30 pm and traffic along the highway was blocked. RCMP were on scene to control traffic.

Though the cause of the fire is unconfirmed, it is thought to have started from a discarded cigarette butt.

Firefighters reported that the Atrevida Road fire had been contained by 4:45 pm.

And south of town, on Tuck Road, off Dixon Road near Lang Bay, fire razed a structure then spread to adjacent structures before moving into the nearby brush. Crews, assisted by two helicopters, quickly  brought it under control but as of 5:10 pm it had not been officially contained, fire officials reported. 

RCMP and Emergency Support Services were called out to assist people forced to leave their properties. BC Hydro was also on scene.

More to come.