PAGC Briefing

Wednesday July 11, 2015 @ 1100h

PROVINCE WIDE WEATHER

Today: A warm front will give increasing clouds and isolated showers a risk of thunderstorms for areas south of Churchill River. In Southern Saskatchewan there will be increasing clouds with a risk of thundershowers. Temperatures in the low 30’s with moderate winds. Fire behavior expected to be moderated by higher humidity. Mostly cloudy with a chance isolated showers overnight.

Outlook for Sunday:

  • mostly cloudy
  • showers to the Forest Fringe as well as the Agricultural Zone
  • risk of thundershowers south of Churchill Riveras well as Southern Saskatchewan

Smoke:

The air quality is expected to be significantly improved for the next couple of days.

Highways

New Road Closures (Fluid)
  • Hwy 102
  • Hwy 916
  • Hwy 969
  • Hwy 2 North at the Hwy 264 Jct
  • Hwy 2 North at Weyakwin Jct.
  • Hwy165 West of the 910 Jct to Beuaval
  • Hwy 165 East Of Beauval
/
  • Hwy 914
  • Hwy 955 from La Loche
  • Hwy 965 (Cluff Lake Road)
  • Ramsey Bay Road
  • Elaine Lake Road
  • Hwy 937

PAGC WILDFIRES OF INTEREST:

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15WY – MLIR13 (Montreal Lake) / North of Montreal Lake, east of Hwy 2. / 4100ha / Not Contained
  • Montreal Lake Reserve, Timber Bay at risk.
  • Montreal Lake Reserve, Timber Bay evacuated

  • Buckland and Smeaton Fire Departments in Montreal Lake, handling spot fires.
  • Helicopters, crews working with dozers, values protection in place.
  • Crews worked to extinguish hot spots at Waskesiu River Road (Off Hwy 2).
  • Continue patrol hot spots off of Waskesiu Road and around the subdivision
  • 30 military personnel deployed
  • July 10- Progress establishing catline to protect assets and access fire.
  • July 10- Precipitation received overnight July 9-10.
  • July 10- Better conditions helping progress in extinguishing hot spots.

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15WY – PHILION / East and North of Weyakwin / 105,000 / Not Contained
  • Weyakwin, Ramsey subdivision, and the Provincial Rec Site at Weyakwin, Highway 2, Sasktel Tower at risk.
  • Weyakwin, Ramsey subdivisionevacuated.

  • Six Type 2 crews and two Type 1 crews working at Weyakwin town site including Carlyle Fire Department.
  • Martensville Fire Department is working at Ramsey Bay on hot spots.
  • 65 military personnel deployed to assist on new hot spots.
  • July 10- 6-12 mm precipitation received overnight July 9-10
  • July 10- Fire has burned up to the outer limits of the Northern Hamlet of Weyakwin and the Ramsey Bay Subdivision. Crews continue to action smouldering areas around the community with better conditions helping progress
  • July 10- Significant progress in efforts around Ramsey Bay
  • July 10- Crews are working along the major road corridors to reduce smoke and fire issues

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LF-NIPEK / 4 km north of East Trout Lake / 392 ha / Contained
  • Evacuation and road closure lifted July 4 for East Trout – Nipekamew Lakes Recreation Site and East Trout Lake Subdivision with advisory that anyone with health problems should stay away due to smoke.
  • VP deployed at Pine Grove Resort

  • July 10-Good progress
  • July 10- Crews continue extinguishing hot spots

Comments/Actions
  • July 10- Crews being deployed to northeast corner to begin securing line towards the community.

Other Fires of Interest as of July 9

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LA-EGG / Surrounding the north end of the airport, and 1.5 km west of La Ronge / 95,000 (merged with ELI - estimate – under review) / Not Yet Contained
  • Areas Impacted: La Ronge, Wadin Bay, Nemeiben Lake, Sucker River, English Bay and Highway #102.
  • All fires in the region - All previously announced evacuations remain in effect.

  • Egg and Eli fires have now merged, and will now be referred to as the Egg Fire
  • 60 man army unit assisting with securing cat line to the west of La Ronge
  • 30 man army unit assisting at Wadin Bay and Sucker River
  • 30 man army unit assisting at English Bay
  • Wadin Bay and Nemeiben Lake campgrounds have burned and will be closed for the remainder of the year

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15BN-MACK / 5 km east of Laloche
15 km SW of Turnor Lk
6km north of Bear Crk / 12,800 ha / Not Contained
  • La Loche, Bear Creek, Turnor Lake, Clearwater River Dene Nation, Bear Creek, Hwy 155 and Hwy 909 at risk.
  • La Loche, Clearwater River, and Turnor Lake on full evacuation.

  • Ground crews with trucks, cats, helicopters active.
  • 13 ground crews with trucks, 4 cats, 3 helicopters active.
  • Cooler and more humid weather allowed firefighters to work on the fire which did not grow.

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LX-SENYK / 2 km west of Pinehouse / 81,000 ha / Not Contained
  • Community of Pinehouse, Cabins on Seymore Lake at risk.
  • Pinehouse evacuated ~50 residents remain as of July 5 (community task force).
  • Pinehouse leaders requesting residents start returning to community on Friday.
  • FCA Manager recommends that Pinehouse remain evacuated due to direct fire threat.

  • Power back on at Pinehouse.
  • Hot dry weather today
  • Fire will likely be more active today.
  • Green areas in the fire flaring up, very smoky in the whole area with little open flame.

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15BN-BRADY / North of La Loche approx. 14 km north of Clearwater Dene Nation. / 92,000 ha / On going assessment
  • Clearwater Dene Nation, La Loche, Hwy 955 (Cluff Lake Road) at risk.

  • No resources on the fire. Observe fire and watched closely to protect values.

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15BN-MALLORY / 22 km south of Turnor Lake / 6100 ha / Not Contained
  • Turnor Lake at risk.

  • No resources on the fire
  • 24 km from Turnor, 15 km from Bear Creek

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LA-BOB / 40 km northeast of La Ronge / 21,411 ha / Not contained
  • Miles Lake, McKay lake at risk.

  • VP crews continue to maintain water systems and sprinklers systems active.
  • Crews on SE part of fire, supported by 1 helicopter

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LX-BOB / West side of Hwy 903 north of Canoe Lake / 100 ha / Not Contained
  • Hwy 903, McKay Lake at risk.

  • Good firefighting weather allowed ground crews to use equipment to surround the fire.

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LX-FORCIER / 8 km North of Patuanak / 143,075ha / Protecting Values
  • Patuanak, English River First Nation, cabins on Primeau Lake at risk.
  • Patuanak, English River evacuated.

  • The fire did not gain any amount of size today.
  • The fire moved closer to Patuanuk today than before, it will be several days before the community is considered safe.

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15BN-BRAY / West of Vermette Lake and South of Dillon Lake / 62,000 ha / Ongoing Assessment
  • Vermette, Dillon and Little Dillon Lakes at risk.

  • Set up three VPs on Cabins
  • All values saved on Dillon Lake
  • Fire lying low today. Fire did not grow much.

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LA-BRIAN FIRE / 16 km north of Grandmothers Bay / 17,062 ha / Not contained
  • Dickens Lake, Grandmothers Bay, Hailstone Lake at risk.
  • Dickens Lake, Grandmothers Bay, Hailstone Lake evacuated.

  • The fire crossed highway 102, approximately 1 km north of Dickens Lake Rec Area
  • The fire line to the SE was holding as of noon

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15BN-CLAY / West of La Loche, on west side of Lac La Loche. / 3,940 ha / Not Contained
  • Clearwater Dene Nation and La Loche at risk.

  • Crews, helicopter active on fire.
  • Hot dry weather today, potential for crossover.
  • Fire will likely be more active today.
  • Fire did not grow today

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LX-SUDDEN / 2 km west of Hwy 155 north of Green Lake at km 60 / 3,200 ha / Ongoing Assessment
  • Derocher Lake and Highway 155 at risk.

  • Active fire forecasted for today.
  • Trees are candling and the fire is moving very slowly.
  • Crews are working the fire

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LA-BEAR / 53 km northeast of La Ronge / 6,301 ha / Not Contained
  • VP units are deployed on values and running.

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15BN-JAYLEEN / West of Upper Cummins Lake / 12,250ha / Ongoing Assessment
  • Niska Channel (at south end of Little Peter Pond Lake) at risk.
  • Dillon, Michel Point, St. George’s Hill smoke issues

  • Active fire forecasted for today.
  • The fire is still approx. 1 km from HWY 925 and 30 km away from Dillon and St. George’s Hill.

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LX-SHERRI / 3 km West of Beauval / 1 ha / Not Contained
  • Beauval, including Segamayak subdivision; Amyott Lake subdivision at risk.

  • Fire no longer a threat. Last report for this fire, all equipment and tools removed.

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LA-STOWERS / 37 km southwest of La Ronge / 700 / Not Contained
  • Hall Lake, Clam Lake, and Sikatchu.

  • Hall Lake, Clam Lake,Sikatchu under general evacuation.
  • Fire to be engaged with crews and equipment

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LA-LYNX / 24 km Southwest of Stanley Mission
2 km north of Hwy 915 / 329 / Not Contained
  • Highway 915, south of Stanley Mission at risk.

  • Fire progressing to the east and south.
  • Fire is at the north roadside of km 6 into Stanley

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LA-FRANCIS / 16.5 km Northwest of La Ronge / 2,689 ha / Not Contained
  • 5 to 7 cabins on Williams Peninsula

Comments/Actions
  • Ongoing assessment.

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15LA-CAREY / 41 km Southwest of La Ronge / 200 ha / Not Contained
Values @ Risk
  • Values at Mitchell Bay, Hunter’s Bay, Pickerel Bay
  • MOE cabin at Hunter’s Bay

Comments/Actions
  • Ongoing assessment.

INCIDENT / LOCATION / SIZE (Ha) / STATUS
15DB-VANCE / 8.5km west of Deschambault Lake / 12,979 ha / Not Contained
Values @ Risk
  • Deschambault Lake