70 Mile House Forest Fire - update from Meadow Springs Ranch

Thursday, May 8th, 2009

Just adding a few photos that we took on Sunday May 3rd. These were the ones on my old film camera - yes, they did turn out although not very good as the film was really old. We were close enough to the chopper that I backed up before he dumped his water as I thought we were going to get a bath (3rd photo).

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Huge rains today - thunder storm. Any fire still burning would probably get drowned. Heres some photos that were taken by Barbara Pessler from the Graham Dunden Ranch in 70 Mile. Good photos Barb!

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 - 2nd up date 9:00 AM

The head guy from the forestry fire fighting center just called and told us we could relax! The fire is pretty much 100% contained - yeah!! Good work guys!! There was another fire to the north west of us too, (Gustafson Lake) and it also is now pretty much 100% contained. It's been a long week ... glad to know we can get back to a normal life.

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 (AM)

No wind !! Yeah! Yes, it's calm this morning and we can't see any smoke, from here anyway. We even got a tiny bit of snow this morning, too, and they are forecasting more rain today. After what we saw last night we feel pretty good this morning and can probably relax - a bit anyway.

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 (AM)

Forestry fire fighter officials told Kathy this morning (Tuesday, May 5th) not to let our guard down yet. 70 Mile and the subdivision, etc, are now safe, but the now 1000 hectare fire is still burning about 2 KM south of us, in the power line area. It was, at that point in time, 25% contained - I'd like to hear them say 100% contained instead.

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 (PM)

We went for a drive in the bush after Kathy got home. We headed south to see what was happening and found things pretty much under control. These next four photos are taken on Tuesday about 7:00 PM. This is all that is left of the fires at our end - there are still fires burning further south. Note how close the fire was to Cunningham's hay barn (our closest neighbour to the south).

Monday, May 4th, 2009

We're ok - at this point in time anyway. We figure the fire was about 1.5 to 2 miles to the south of us and it was travelling north (on the power line). Scary stuff.

We were on our way home from Williams Lake (Saturday afternoon) when we heard about the fire. Kathy phoned the police from the truck for more details and was told then that we would not be allowed to go home - under any circumstances!! She explained the fact that we had horses cattle, dogs, etc, but was told no matter - no way were we going home. We had to stop for fuel in 100 Mile and there was a cop there so I asked him and got the same answer - they would not let us by the road block!! I said it better be a big road block then, because I'm driving by if there's room for my truck to pass. The highway was closed at 94 Mile (Highway 24) for all except local traffic. We said we were going to 83 Mile so they let us go. At 83 Mile there was another road block making everyone turn and head down 83 Mile Road - we were lucky here - the flag girl was a good friend (they own the ranch that we use for round up) and knew where we lived and understood the fact that we had livestock, etc. She knew our truck and waved us through without even stopping us! She also let Brian and Marilyn through with us - they were coming to help us with what ever needed doing - at this point in time, we had no idea what that would be.

Our neighbour to the north, Marion James and the kids, was sitting on the highway with truck and trailer waiting to hear what to do. Don was out riding!! Another big scare for them - not a good time to be out riding in the bush.

After arriving home, and talking to the Cunnimgham's, we figured we were in no immediate danger. We are lucky in the fact that the house is a long way from the trees and that we have short grass, lots of flood irrigation water, and the lake and pond, all between us and the fire. So we lit the BBQ, poured a glass of wine, and threw on some steaks. After a good meal we started to wonder what to do next. It was dark and although we had lots of smoke around, we could see no red glow. We loaded our computers, some photos albums, and some old family photos (the ones hanging on the wall) and sent them home with Brian and Marilyn for safe keeping. We had the stock trailer hooked up and ready to roll, and fed all the cattle and horses in close where we knew where they were. There was messages on our answering machine (from before we even knew there was a fire) from people saying they had trucks and trailers and were ready to come help!!

About a half hour after B & M left (about 11:00 pm) the wind picked up and man did it blow!! This is when the sky turned red and we saw how close things really were! We were watching the red glow from the living room window and were afraid to go to bed - I did anyway for a couple of hours before Kathy came to bed about 2 AM. She said the wind had quit and the sky was not red any more - we didn't sleep much though. We had no power as it had gone out about 4:00 because of the burned down power poles - on both sides of the highway.

So it all started with someone burning brush east of the railroad tracks, east of 70 Mile. The wind got it and it ran .... by the old saw mill and cut across country and came out just north of 70 Mile. It flattened a house and a back yard body shop at 71 Mile and then jumped the highway to another house that it also leveled. From there it went around (barely) the subdivision. Everyone had been evacuated earlier. It then headed into the 74 (Cunningham's) from the south east - they were waiting for it, had everything soaked down, and fought hard - amazingly they saved the 74 - good thing for a good, close knit, family that are all hard workers. The flames were right at the back of the hay shed and some of the flames Wade said was 30 - 35 feet in the air.

Looking north at about 71.5 Mile. This photo is from Krista at the 70 Mile Store. click to enlarge

From there we were the next on the list as it was heading north west. After the wind quit things settled down. Sunday morning we went for a drive down the old wagon road and up a logging road. We found the top of the fire at the power lines, pretty much out (so it looked anyway). There was a chopper grabbing water from a lake on one side of the road and dumping it on the fire on the other side - just stumps and a few hot spots burning.

We took some photos but they have to be developed still ... yes developed - our digital camera was with a computers, etc, and so we dug out the old film camera. The film in it is pretty old (no idea how old) so we're hoping they turn out. I did attach a couple of photos we got with another old digital and one from Krista at the 70 Mile Store.

Anyway things looked good until the wind picked up again and from home we could see the fires starting up. About 2:30 we went for a drive again and could see four or five different fires burning between us and Cunningham's. It was then that we had a thunder storm that dumped about 3/4 of an inch of big wet hail stones on us - made us feel way better. Unfortunately the storm missed the fire but the wind changed direction and the fire was heading back to 70 Mile where it was partially contained. We got our power back about 5:30 - 25 hours later - not that I'm complaining about not having power when two people lost their houses completely - across the highway from each other - can't imagine!!

There was a meeting at 11 AM today (Monday) where they announced that they would be letting everyone back in their homes in the subdivision at 3:00. The fixed wing tankers (water bombers) started about noon. They closed the highway for another hour while they dumped fire retardant around the subdivision. The wind is still blowing bad but I think they have things under control - at least close to civilization. The choppers are still flying over us as I write this - Monday 6:30PM.

All photos will enlarge if you click on them.

Saturday evening from the deck

Later Saturday evening from the BBQ

71 Mile - Jake and Tracey's place.

Across the highway was a house and body shop

Hydro crews renewing poles on both sides of the highway.

Sunday morning on the side of Cunningham Road after the fire was out ...??

Sunday afternoon from our living room window

One of 3 or 4 choppers - taken from our yard Sunday

Monday afternoon a fixed wing bomber in 70 Mile

Tuesday morning - looking west