Community Update Meeting Minutes
Dease Lake
August 28, 2018
Hugh Murdoch, BC Wildfire Service
- Bucketed all day today – fuel now staged from TC
- Heavy precipitation today: 12mm 70 mile, 4.5 TC; humidity is up, temps down
- Structural protection on DFO facility, fire within 500m – “back has been broken on this fire”; not over though
- Numbers will decrease on staffing, but watching fire and associated trigger points closely
- Fortunate that we didn’t have to move forward with the planned burn
- That said, road has become dangerous – one vehicle in a ditch, fuel bowser had to be pulled; many trees coming down
- The Ministry of Transportation is getting more aggressive on removing danger trees by road, though avoidance more dangerous than a car getting hit
- Heavy equipment will be along road
FLNRO operations
- Transitioning from firefighting to rehabilitation/recovery….terrain stability, erosion, slope control (especially around fire guards).
- Flight tomorrow with 2 geotechs, looking at roads and slopes
Bob, Regional District of Kitimat/Stikine
- Plans in motion for recovery strategy; plan was well-received by residents
- Working in conjunction with Tahltan, even if funding sources are different
- Goal is to make things equitable between Band and non-band neighbours
- Questions on lifting order: fire may be wanting but danger still exists in other ways; once cleanup is done and community safe, only then will all-clear be given
Bob Mills, EMBC
- Will be stepping up information sharing during the day, based on request for more information sharing from residents outside Dease
- Anita will handle Terrace info, someone else in Smithers; daily SitRep will be posted on Tahltan web site
Andy, Samaritan’s Purse
- SP handling sifting of ash, based on owner permission and presence (or advocate)
- free service, trained staff
- 250-771-3056