Grand Forks Fire and Rescue responded with 16 firefighters to a small wildfire in RDKB Electoral Area D early Monday, Aug. 10.
Image: Grand Forks Fire and Rescue
GRAND FORKS — Grand Forks firefighters went beyond their contracted response area early Monday to attack a small wildfire in rural Grand Forks, containing its spread before turning the incident over to the BC Wildfire Service.
Grand Forks Fire and Rescue said crews were dispatched to a report of a wildfire in Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Electoral Area D at 3:31 a.m. Aug. 10.
The reported location was very close to the boundary of the department’s contracted response area. When firefighters reached that boundary, they learned the fire was not much farther away.
Because of the provincial state of emergency and ongoing wildfire conditions, crews decided to continue to the site and assess the fire, the department said in a Facebook post.
Firefighters found a wildfire estimated at approximately 0.3 hectares near a forest service road.
GFFR described the fire as low intensity, although crews encountered areas of open flame in larger piles of debris. Several trees had significant burning around their bases and were identified as danger trees.
Crews initially worked with hand tools to stop the fire from spreading before using water carried aboard the department’s trucks to extinguish larger hot spots.
BC Wildfire Service personnel later arrived, and responsibility for the incident was transferred to the provincial agency to complete extinguishment.
A total of 16 Grand Forks firefighters responded with two bush trucks, one engine, two water tenders and one utility vehicle.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the BC Wildfire Service.
Grand Forks Fire and Rescue thanked members of the public who spotted the fire and contacted emergency services.
The department also reminded residents to report wildfires immediately by calling 911, 1-800-663-5555, or *5555 from a cellphone. Wildfires can also be reported through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app.
The department continues to recruit paid-on-call firefighters for all three of its halls.
City council has approved a direct award of up to $90,500 plus taxes to Brilliance Consulting Ltd. for work on its organizational plan and improvements to Civic Works operations.