A fire at the Pioneer Log Homes of B.C. log yard near Williams Lake was fully extinguished almost 12 hours after it started on Monday, May 5.
Cariboo Regional District regional fire chief Roger Hollander told Black Press Media Tuesday, the cause of the fire is still under investigation by BC Wildfire and the RCMP.
“It started at about noon and the 150 Mile Volunteer Fire Department were the first ones who were notified, as that is under their fire protection area,” he said. “They responded and upon arrival they saw the large log pile burning and they requested the assistance of the city of Williams Lake Fire Department as well as the CRD fire departments of Wildwood and Miocene."
BC Wildfire Service and the RCMP also attended, and Hollander said the Pioneer Log Home site staff were a big part of cooling the log piles that were not on fire and preventing sparks from entering those piles.
“It was certainly a large pile of logs,” he commented. “I’m assuming they would be used to build log homes. One of the questions comes up is about the value. Obviously I don’t know that but the owners of the business would know.”
Fortunately, Hollander said, the fire was contained to one area of the site.
“That’s the good news. With a large pile of wood that’s on fire, such as mill fires and that type, there is a large amount of heat that comes off that and it is quite dangerous for firefighters.”
When wind is added in the mix, it makes it even more difficult to suppress or extinguish, he said.
“It was a long day for the firefighters. They were for 11-and-a-half hours on scene. Just before midnight they wrapped up. It’s exhausting for the volunteers.”
Water was retrieved for the tenders from Williams Lake First Nation, just across Highway 97 near the site, and from a hydrant at the Tourism Discovery Centre in Williams Lake by the various fire departments.
“We can get quite creative where we pick up water and shuttle it to the scene,” Hollander said.
The fire was officially extinguished at 11:30 p.m., he confirmed.
BC Wildfire listed the fire as being .0009 hectares in size with a suspected cause as humans.
Traffic is still moving on Highway 97 and RCMP and Dawson Road Services are on scene directing traffic. Southbound traffic is reduced to one lane alongside the fire as firefighters work to douse the decked logs.
150 Mile Volunteer Fire Department is leading the response, with Wildwood Fire Department and Williams Lake Fire Department providing support as well.
A prescribed burn took place near the compound last week, but firefighters have not yet provided information on the cause of the fire.
More to come
