No large-scale back burn planned for Gun Lake wildfire, BCWS says

Update: The BC Wildfire Service says there are no plans for any large-scale back burn ignitions on the Downton Lake wildfire at this time.

"Only small-scale hand ignitions are currently being used to secure the fire perimeter to existing heavy machine guards. These types of ignitions are very common, frequently used tactics to create low-intensity fire to remove surface level fuels," the Bendor Complex Information Team said in an email.

Read more about BCWS' efforts on the Downton Lake fire here.

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Residents of the unincorporated community of Gun Lake, where a wildfire has been burning out of control for weeks, are voicing concern about a potential back burn planned for Sunday, Aug. 27.

The Downton Lake wildfire is 8,450 hectares in size as of Saturday afternoon, and has already destroyed several homes and structures in the area.

"The Gun Lake community has already suffered devastating loss, the highest ratio of loss in any Canadian community at present," reads a letter signed by Gold Bridge resident Jessica Robinson, and addressed to BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) officials and elected representatives on Saturday.

"The community, including many on the ground crews that have been working on the fires for weeks on end, are deeply concerned about continued back burns."

A back burn is an effort to control a wildfire by using strategic burning to eliminate the fuels in its path. 

Residents recognize and appreciate the hard work of BCWS crews in the area, the letter said, adding that its intent was to highlight the continued lack of resources assigned to a "relentless fire that has exhibited extreme and unpredictable behaviour."

The letter implored BCWS not to undertake a "risky" back burn unless additional ground crews and air support are en route.

"These two critical resources have not been present in substantial enough numbers—I’m told due to our small population base—to manage this fire all along, and certainly not to address what’s happening on the ground now," it read.

According to the BC Lakes Stewardship Society, Gun Lake has about 260 residentially zoned properties, with 30 year-round residents and three commercially zoned properties.

BCWS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

On Aug. 6, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District confirmed the fire had destroyed two single-family recreational properties and at least 12 outbuildings in the Gun Lake area, about 120 kilometres north of Whistler.

In an update on Aug. 21, the SLRD said more structures have since been lost, though it could not confirm how many.

Evacuation orders remain in effect in the area.

The fire has had plenty of publicity since it was discovered July 13. On Aug. 22, the BCWS shared footage of an "incredibly rare" phenomenon known as a "fire tornado," captured by BCWS overnight crews on Gun Lake on Aug. 18.

The Casper Creek wildfire near Anderson Lake to the east, meanwhile, is also still burning out of control at about 10,952 hectares. That fire has also burned at least one home in the Highline Road area, according to the SLRD.

B.C. declared a state of emergency due to wildfires on Aug. 18.

In Whistler, some intermittent poor air quality is so far the sole sign of B.C.'s worst-ever wildfire season. As of Aug. 26, there were no wildfires burning in the vicinity of the resort, but the Air Quality Health Index was listed as 5, or "moderate risk."

Check back with Pique for more as this story develops.