Birkenhead Lake fire update: 'Things can turn on a dime'

The chair of the Squamish Lillooet Regional District (SLRD), Jen Ford has urged residents on evacuation alert due to the Birkenhead Lake fire to be ready to leave on a moment’s notice. “These things can always turn on a dime,” Ford told Pique.

The fire has grown to 558 hectares according to the latest update from BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) at 6:31am this morning. Higher winds yesterday increased fire behaviour. Birkenhead Lake Park was also closed on Aug.8 to protect public safety.

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District  (SLRD) issued the evacuation alert yesterday for properties in the vicinity of Birkenhead Lake Estates and Blackwater Road due to the “out of control” wildfire. According to a media release on Wednesday evening, the SLRD  issued the alert based on recommendations from BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) and because of the potential danger to public safety”. The fire was started by a lightning strike.

Ford said that the SLRD is ensuring that the appropriate support is in place for the 28 properties on alert. One of the properties is Birkenhead Lake estates which comprises of 98 single cabins.

“It is a recreational area,” she said. “They are getting messaging from our team and from BC Wildfire about how to be prepared. An alert means being ready to leave at a moment’s notice. It means having your go bag packed and have an evacuation plan confirmed with the people in your vicinity.”

The SLRD’s FireSmart team will be in the Blackwater area on Sunday, Aug. 18 from 10am to meet locals on evacuation alert. They will help residents to FireSmart their homes. “People always feel comforted when they can do something,” said Ford. “This is something we can do. “

Ford hopes that the SLRD can give residents plenty of notice before evacuation. However, wildfires are unruly and unpredictable. “These things can always turn on a dime. We will send out notification with whatever information is necessary as soon as we get it,” she said. “We will canvas the neighbourhood as soon as we can safely do so. We are asking people to keep an eye on our social media channels and our regular communication channels. Obviously, wildfire is unpredictable. Notice could be short. That’s why the alert comes before the order. It is your first line of be ready and things can change quickly.”

Rain is currently forecast in the coming days, which may improve conditions. “Things can be downgraded as well,” said Ford “They are calling for a lot of rain this weekend. It might change in the favourable direction too. We have to be prepared for anything.”

Residents should use this time to plan to move back to their permanent residents or to stay with friends. “It means being mindful that notification can come at any moment,” said Ford.  “It’s far easier to have a plan and be ready to go than to not be ready.”

Ford urged the public to comply with advice from officials. BCWS said that there have been several incidents in which fire suppression activities were halted due to interference by members of the public. In a Facebook post, BCWS explained that these interferences included members of the public entering an active fire area and travelers stopping along roadways to watch active wildfires. People have refused to leave their homes in BC communities this season even when evacuation orders are in place.

For the SLRD, Ford acknowledged that leaving a home behind can be heartbreaking.

“We know that these are very traumatic experiences for people,” she said “People saying that they will stay is against the advice of BCWS. It is a risk that they have to be willing to take. It does put the wildfire service in a difficult situation. It puts resources in jeopardy. It puts fire service personnel in different conversations. We ask people to listen to the advice and then the orders when they come if they come. If they don’t, they are taking on their own personal risk.”