Feb 07, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Dec 20, 2024
Monday, July 22, 2024 was a challenging day for our Fire Service as the Madias Creek Fire broke out adjacent to the highway between Fairmont and Windermere. Our Volunteer Firefighters responded quickly and worked tirelessly alongside BC Wildfire Service Crews. Unified command was quickly established, and extra air resources were called in.
In total, 8 members from Fairmont and 12 members from Windermere responded with 3 apparatus each as well as 2 command vehicles and 2 Edgewater members who happened to be in the area.
Other than highway access at the base of the fire, there was no road access for bush trucks or tenders and all ground efforts were made on foot with hand tools and hoselines.
For many of our members this was their second call of the day and most of them worked until midnight. We kept a small crew overnight for hot spots and to make sure nothing escaped before returning Tuesday morning with 13 members and 5 apparatus from both Fire Departments to get the fire contained. The four members of our RDEK Work Experience Program were a valuable resource bolstering our numbers and quick response.
Monday afternoon, tactical evacuations were performed by the RCMP who remained on scene until contract security and flaggers could be set up on the #3 Road overnight and relieved by Mainroads. Our thanks to those agencies for their support.
Yesterday afternoon, we were able to downgrade the Evacuation Order to an Alert and, while the Evacuation Alerts around this fire remain in place, the fire is now classified as Being Held and is not anticipated to grow further. I am incredibly proud of this outcome and the performance of the unified command team.
To the affected evacuees, our heartfelt thanks for your compliance and patience. While some of our members on the fire were personally affected by the Alert, I know first-hand the frustration and feelings that accompany leaving your property in the hands of others. Your willingness to leave made the difference in the aircraft being able to operate close and fast without compromising the public and their personal safety.
To the ?akisq?nuk First Nation Chief, Council, leadership and members: your support and trust in these firefighters and our mutual respect is important to both Fire Departments and to myself personally. Hu sukiⱡq̓ukni
We enjoy the ongoing relationship we have built with the BC Wildfire Service and we appreciate your dedication and hard work. To the pilots and air crews: your presence and skill and professionalism in the air and on the radio is incredible. Thank You.
I want to acknowledge and thank the RDEK and Emergency Operations Centre Staff who worked hard resourcing and supporting our needs late into the night.
To the community members and businesses stopping with gifts of food and water last night and this morning; and, to the employers who allowed our firefighters to drop everything to respond to these fires: thank you.
The size of this fire and the positive outcome is a credit to our strong valley relationships. While the threat was enormous, teamwork prevailed. We are stronger together.
- Chief Sinclair
To view the most recent related news release: https://www.rdek.bc.ca/news/entry/firefighters_gain_the_upper_hand_after_multiple_fire_starts