Fire update - August 15

Much warmer today - high of 125C.  Moderate to heavy smoke throughout the day.

A state of emergency was declared this morning in BC due to the number of fires and poor air quality throughout the province.

Average day again for new fires with about 20 started

There are currently 33 fires listed as "Out of control" in the Cariboo.

Alerts
There is still an evacuation alert for Eagle Creek and Hawkins Lake area due to the Lang Lake South fire (see details below).

The evacuation alert for the Lang Lake and Murphy Lake areas remains.

Orders
No evacuation orders of note.

New fires include:
No new fires of note.

Existing notable fires:
Hendrix Ridge - still listed at 110ha and approximately 3.5km south of the tailing ponds - 3km due west from Stinson Lake. No official change on this fire.  As stated yesterday, I believe this fire is out or at least "Under Control".

Map of local fires

McNeil FSR -  The fire just off of the top of the McNeil FSR is still listed at 117ha. I did not check on this fire personally today.

Mt Hendrix - The two fires on the east side of Mt Hendrix are still "Out of control".  The fire east of McNeil Lake remains at 1.5ha.  The fire 3km west of McNeil Lake is still listed at 15ha, but still snows a fire perimeter slightly larger than the McNeil FSR fire.  It hasn't changed since Sunday though.

Lang Lake South - about 3km south of the lake and 8km from Eagle Creek.  The fire is still listed at 440ha, and 70% contained.  The are east of Lang Lake is heavily logged, but south (towards Eagle Creek) and southwest (towards Schoolhouse Lake Provincial Park and Ruth Lake) is not. The fire is 100% guarded, and now has 15 firefighters who are starting to perform back-burns.  This means the fire will technically grow in size, but should be brought under control within a few days if the burns go as planned.

Lang Lake North - a few hundred meters from the north end of the lake.  No update today, and still listed at 345 ha.  I suspect the status will be updated to "Being Held" any day now. 

2018 BC wildfire stats
June 20-23: 136 new fires, 12 still active
July 17-19:  64 new fires, 17 still active
July 30-Aug 1:  210 new fires, 116 still active
All of May: 125 new fires, 3 still active
All of June: 178 new fires, 15 still active
All of July: 309 new fires, 104 still active
All of Aug: 438 new fires, 290 still active

Current "Out of Control" fires: 272

Note: these stats are for fires greater than 0.01 hectares.  "Active" is any fire that is not "Out".

BC map August 15 at 8:00pm