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net 100 Mile House Free Press Thursday, October 14, 2021 A11

FIREFIGHT 2021
COMMUNITY APPRECIATION
Deka Lake wildfire brought 70 Mile ‘kept on’
out community spirit guard during fires
Kelly Sinoski Kelly Sinoski The 70 Mile firefighters
100 Mile Free Press 100 Mile Free Press generally deal with local
structure fires and incidents

A T
l Boyce was at he 70 Mile Volunteer along Highway 97 within
Grizzly look- Fire Department an eight-mile radius of the
out watching “fared quite well,” community. They also help
the lightning storm on this summer, despite sever- out beyond that radius, shar-
June 30 when he saw al wildfires raging nearby ing the work with Clinton.
the fire start at Deka at Young Lake, Chasm and The independent depart-
Lake. Flat Lake. ment is funded by a property
The fire chief of the Society president Dennis tax assessment, which nets
Deka Lake and Dis- Huber said the 12-member them about $30,000 a year to
trict Volunteer Fire independent department cover basic expenses, Hydro,
Department rushed dealt with one fire nearby telephone and gas for the
home, grabbed some and then was called out by fire trucks. Everything else
water cans and shovels BC Wildfire Service to do is funded by grants, which
and jumped in a side- interface management of included $140,000 in 2019 to
by-side to see what he the Flat Lake fire, which update some of the equip-
could do. required them to push a trail ment. Work is also expected
“It started pretty through from the fire hall to to start on an $80,000 up-
much in a spot that the north end of the subdi- grade to the fire hall exterior
was difficult for our The Deka Lake and District Volunteer Fire Department were kept busy in the early summer. (Submitted photo) vision and set up sprinklers to make it more fireproof.
trucks to access,” he to keep the area wet. “We are looking at more
said, noting it was in Shortly after, Deka the 108 Mile and Inter- teer Fire Department But while the smoke Crews then monitored grants because we have to
the woods, off the side Lake and Judson Road lakes volunteer fire de- a standing ovation. has dissipated, Boyce the “predetermined water get more uniforms and turn-
roads, about one kilo- were under evacuation partments, were also a “We were lucky added there’s still route” for a couple of hours out gear,” Huber said.
metre from his house. alert. The following huge help until BCWS with the support we work to be done. each day for a month until The fire department is also
“By the time we got day, 100 Mile RCMP, structure crews and had from BC Wildfire The wildfires were BC Wildfire Service got the negotiating with the TNRD
there, it was pretty gi- South Cariboo Search firefighters arrived. Service and Structure an “eye-opener,” he fire under control. for approval to put an addi-
normous.” and Rescue and 100 “Everybody that Protection and the Fire said, noting besides “We did very little this tion on the hall, to provide
Boyce radioed his Mile Fire Rescue mem- wasn’t busy dealing Commission,” Boyce Deka and Judson, the year in response to wild- a garage for its trucks. The
crew to go to Judson bers headed to Deka with wildfires was here said. Drewry wildfire was fires,” Huber said. department has two pump-
Road, where another to launch a tactical in a heartbeat,” he said. He also credited also posing threats of However, he noted the ers, two water tenders and
fire had broken out, evacuation - telling Deka Lake resi- the local fire depart- joining with the South Flat Lake fire “kept us all a first responder vehicle as
while he headed to residents to leave im- dents were out of their ments, Deka residents Canim Lake blaze. on guard.” Firefighters were well as a structure protec-
the hall to deal with mediately - because the homes for eight days and Cariboo Regional The 20-member de- required to check in each tion trailer.
logistics. fires were a threat to as BC Wildfire crews District and thanked partment is now ready- morning to let the depart- Huber said the depart-
The BC Wildfire Ser- their safety. did everything they the Ladies Auxiliary ing for next season by ment know if they were ment is well set to fight fires,
vice, meanwhile, was Boyce said 100 Mile could to suppress the and the general pub- working in the com- available that day if they but notes it could use more
surveying the Deka fire Fire Rescue was at “fire of note.” When lic - including people munity on fire smart were needed. firefighters, as right now
by helicopter, which Deka “instantly to the fire was finally held from Sulphurous Lake efforts, to take place “We were all reporting and they don’t have two people
“definitely gave us support us,” with - at 650 hectares - on - who kept firefighters next spring. It also re- keeping track of everybody per truck. The department
peace of mind to see early sprinkling pro- July 8 and the evacu- fed and hydrated. cently got a new engine so if we did get a call we has put up posters and plans
they were aware of it,” tection and patrols ation lifted, residents “It really showed a this year and hopes to could respond immediately,” to schedule a recruitment
he said. “It was pretty while neighbouring gave the Deka Lake sense of community,” have a new water ten- Huber said. drive soon.
intense.” fire crews, including and District Volun- he said. der in 2022.

THANK • To the BC Wildfire Service, local fire departments,

South Cariboo Search and Rescue, RCMP, Emergency Social
Services, Red Cross, loggers, ranchers, military and fire departments

YOU
from around the province
• To MLA Lorne Doerkson, CRD Chair Margo Wagner, Mayor Mitch
Campsall and District District of 100 Mile House staff, the Canim
Lake Band, and all their staff for keeping us in the loop
• To our readers for your many emails, notes and phone calls showing
your support and trust for our coverage of the wildfires
• Finally, to the many people who shared their stories,
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