Third Grand Forks Fire/Rescue relief crew deployed to Brunswick Complex

Deputy Chief Morgan Strohmann and firefighters John Stramenga and Liam Geary left Grand Forks Monday morning as the department’s third relief crew deployed to the Brunswick Fire Complex in the Fraser Canyon.

Photo: Grand Forks Fire/Rescue/Facebook

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GRAND FORKS — Grand Forks firefighters are continuing a weeks-long deployment to the Brunswick Complex, with a third relief crew leaving Monday morning to join the wildfire response in the Fraser Canyon.

Grand Forks Fire/Rescue said Deputy Chief Morgan Strohmann and firefighters John Stramenga and Liam Geary left Aug. 17 to replace another three-person Grand Forks crew that had been deployed for 14 days. The department described the group as its third relief crew sent to the complex.

The repeated rotations mean Grand Forks firefighters have maintained a presence at the operation well beyond the department's initial deployment.

The Brunswick Complex includes the Ainslie Creek and Brunswick Creek wildfires, burning on opposite sides of the Fraser River near Boston Bar. Both fires remain out of control.

Ainslie Creek, east of the Fraser River, is by far the larger of the two. The fire had grown to roughly 65,000 hectares by Monday, while Brunswick Creek was about 9,000 hectares. Together, the fires have burned roughly 74,000 hectares.

The fires have been burning since early July in steep Fraser Canyon terrain and have prompted evacuation orders and alerts in the region. Ainslie Creek is also listed by BC Wildfire Service as a wildfire of note.

Firefighters have faced difficult access in parts of the complex, with BC Wildfire Service using ground crews, helicopters, heavy equipment and structure-protection personnel as crews work to contain the fires and protect communities and infrastructure.

BC Wildfire Service imposed a new area restriction around the Ainslie Creek fire on Aug. 14. The restricted area is east of the Fraser River near Boston Bar and spans portions of the Coastal and Kamloops fire centres.

The order is scheduled to remain in place until noon Aug. 31 unless it is lifted earlier. BC Wildfire Service said the restriction is intended to protect the public and emergency personnel and prevent interference with active fire-suppression work.

Grand Forks firefighters deployed to the complex have been assigned to a Type 3 wildland fire engine, equipment designed for work on wildland fires.

The latest deployment comes as Grand Forks Fire/Rescue continues to provide emergency coverage at home. The department responds locally to structure and wildland fires, medical calls, vehicle extrications, hazardous-material incidents and other emergencies.

The City of Grand Forks lists Rich Piché as fire chief, with Strohmann serving as one of the department's deputy chiefs.

Grand Forks Fire/Rescue has not yet said how many individual members have served at the Brunswick Complex across the original deployment and subsequent relief rotations.