Residents of Canal Flats, forced to flee to Kimberley while a massive forest fire threatens their community were last night a little better off for information, but not for their situation.
The 150 people sent to Kimberley as part of the wholescale evacuation that began on the weekend could do little but play the waiting game, share stories among themselves and pray that their homes would still be standing when they return.
In the meantime authorities were going to make the people who stayed behind leave the community.
There were about 150 remaining in Canal Flats and they would be removed "with all resources available" a forestry official told a meeting late yesterday afternoon at the Kimberley Civic Centre held for the evacuees.
Police clarified this as having to physically remove the person if necessary, because it is an authority granted by law under evacuation procedure.
On Sunday evacuees checked in at three locations in Kimberley: the condominiums at the Kimberley Ski Resort, the RhineKastle Motor Hotel and the Kimbrook Inn. Yesterday they were asked to all stay at the condominiums for their second night away from home. They were treated to a barbecue at the resort following the meeting.
The residents were told that the danger was so bad that it was above putting out building fires, if they occurred.
Three spot fires broke out at the Crestbrook Forest Industries mill at Canal Flats yesterday which has been closed for the duration of the crisis.
CFI has an eight member crew on location on shifts for 24 hours, and there are 30 fire department personnel on duty as well, checking on the homes.
The town was threatened by a fire on three flanks yesterday and a column of smoke could be seen spewing 30,000 feet into the late afternoon skies.
Chilliwack district manager for the Forestry Department Jack Carridice who is supervising the firefighting said that in his 30 years of work this is about as bad as he has ever seen it.
He stated the situation was explosive, and explained that only people who understood these conditions could work there hence the decision not to let Canal flats residents stay, even if they wanted to help.
The fire could move anywhere at a terrific rate of speed, and he described phenomenon that was basically twisters, generated by the extreme heat.
The Ministry of Human Resources officials advised the evacuees that the SPCA would go to Canal Flats to collect pets if residents notified them.
Evacuees accepted the situation, however there was still some grumbling about the predicament they were in.
Several stated that they should have been notified of the problem much sooner.
Geraldine Lister said that she had spent a boring, unproductive Monday, and that the worst part was not knowing what was happening at Canal Flats. The evacuation should have taken place on Friday, not as late as Sunday, she stated.
Proof of this was in her recollection of sitting at her home watching the flames from the fire as it neared the town. She said her dwelling was closest to the fire of all the Canal Flats residents.
Evelyn Prouse said there was a real smoke hazard in the town when she left. She was coughing as she collected a few household items and drove away.
As firefighters battled the leading edge of the Matthew Creek fire yesterday less than twenty-four kms from Kimberley, local authorities confirmed plans to evacuate the city if the situation grew worse.
Fortunately, it was not as bad as yesterday, when strong winds made the fire jump man made barriers and move dangerously close to city limits.
Light winds offered firefighters the chance to zero in on a small area to build up two guardlines.
By mid-afternoon black burn ignited to create a fire break, which threw a giant plume of buff colored smoke into the air northeast of the city.
Work on the fire yesterday went as well as it could be expected, with only one area not considered to be contained, and one hot spot erupting at about 7 p.m.
The area of the fire remained at the same hectares as yesterday, which was close to the same as at nightfall on Tuesday. Local officials stated that it didn't travel significantly, which offered firefighters the opportunity to work on the primary and secondary line of attack. The fire then remained contained between two fire guards. The crews continued on the ridge on the southeast side of the fire, which was not able to be contained due to the combustible nature of the materials there. The north arm of the fire travelled to a bend in the rocky valley, offering wind relief. The Cranbrook Forestry office later stated that the situation could change quickly.
Another strategy meeting took place last night at the city council chambers for the emergency team and it was reported that firefighters were being maintained during the night in case lightning strikes took place. Mayor Jim Ogilvie told the council that if the fire approached now, it would come down Mark Creek, and over the top of the mountain, or around the bottom of North Star Mountain.
The prime responsibility would then be to save the community, if things ever got that far.
While this was going on, city of Kimberley officials met with the committee heads who were putting together Kimberley's emergency evacuation plan, which all day yesterday and through the night remained on standby status.
Mayor Ogilvie said that the plan was in place and ready to be acted on should the fire suddenly pose a great threat.
It would take about four to five hours to advise the entire community if such an order were to be issued.
Cranbrook would be the destination of the population if the order was given, with the Memorial Arena being the focal point of the plan.
He said there were about 150 people on a state of alert with 60 to 70 of those people working full time on preparation plans.
Because of the position of the fire, the Kimberley ski area would probably be the first place in the city to receive notice.
The mayor said that if such an order is given there would not be a mass exodus, but rather an orderly evacuation already laid out, based on section of town initially affected by the problem.
There were in excess of 400 at the Kimberley ski area, last night including the employees, the year round residents of the housing developments and the evacuees from Canal Flats.
The ski area is considered an especially sensitive part of the town, hence two city firefighting crews complete with water tanks were stationed at the very top till further notice.
They were watching for spot fires, and keeping an eye on the progress of the Matthew Creek blaze.
Another crew is on duty at the base of the North Star mountain, and includes ski hill management.
Because the ski resort is equipped with water lines to the top, hoses were deployed.
Three patrols from the provincial emergency program were on duty in addition to the city and resort crews.
A watch will be kept at the Happy Hans Campgrounds, because they are now full of people in town to take part and watch the Oldtime Accordion Championships this weekend.
In Kimberley itself, there is a full team of volunteers on duty prepared to go door to door to tell people to leave, if that became necessary.
Meanwhile Cominco Ltd. cancelled its afternoon shift again yesterday, because of the smoke problem.
On Wednesday part of the afternoon shift and all of the graveyard workers were sent home because the smoke was presenting a problem for mine ventilation.
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