Kelowna, B.C. firefighter returns home after helping Fort St. John crews battle wildfires | 24CA News
Kelowna, B.C. firefighter Scott Graf has returned house following 12 days of defending constructions in opposition to a lot of fires burning in and round Fort St. John.
Graf and his crew had been a part of a structural safety job drive, holding properties and houses secure from each the Red Creek and Stoddart Creek wildfires. They had been additionally tasked with evacuating properties when orders had been issued.
“The days are long, like 14- to 16-hour days and you don’t get a day off. You’re busy every day for the two weeks you’re deployed. It gets a little long, so you start to miss home a little bit,” mentioned Graf.
“We are responsible for checking and setting up sprinkler systems on homes and properties. A lot of our work is just kind of in case the fire comes into those properties.”
At the beginning of the 12-day interval in Fort St. John, Graf says circumstances had been beneficial with the Red Creek hearth nevertheless it didn’t take lengthy for issues to vary.
“But when the second Stoddart fire broke out, we were right there so we pulled the truck into the initial attack area and sprayed some water on that, and from there it took off rapidly for the next couple of days.”
In the Okanagan, the fireplace hazard score within the Kamloops Fire Centre is low, however in response to BC Wildfire Service, how lengthy that may final is all depending on how a lot rain comes down over the subsequent few minutes.
“We are kind of getting those warmer temperatures so it will just be dependent throughout the weekend and going into next week and if we happen to receive any precipitation,” mentioned Melanie Bibeau, BCWS Fire Information Officer.
At this time, there are 67 lively wildfires burning throughout the province, with 13 burning uncontrolled.
“Things are dry, everyone knows that, so people have to be careful out there, lighting fires, campfires, cigarette butts, all those things,” mentioned Graf.
