Call Outs 2021 to present
A history of GLF call outs and fires in the Upper Bridge River Valley from 2021 to present.
2024: Medical Assist
On Saturday, Sept 28/24 GLF received from B.C. Ambulance Service to attend an address at Gun Lake for a medical assist. A combined total of eight GLF members attended the scene and the fire hall.
The injured person was attended to by paramedics and then GLF members safely carried the injured person to the waiting ambulance.
Meanwhile other GLF members had proceeded to the GLF fire hall to prepare for a medivac. The ambulance arrived at the fire hall for a short wait for the helicopter. Fire Chief Al Leighton assisted in guiding the helicopter to land at the fire hall. The injured person was packaged for the medivac flight and loaded into the helicopter by paramedics and GLF members.
Special mention: Bruce Hoch was first on the scene and provided outstanding support to the injured person until the arrival of the paramedics. Great job Bruce!!
Photos: Carmen Stacey
2024: Gun Lake - Fire #K70882
July 12, 2024. Members of Gun Lake Fire were on the lake this morning and reported the fire to GLF dispatch at 9:55am. An immediate broadcast was made to muster at the fire hall with 13 GLF active members responding. As the crew was mustering, GLF dispatch reported the fire to BCWS and requested an Initial Attack crew.
GLF attended the scene with Fire Trailer #2. A bucket line was set up until a wajax pump and hose lay was in place to fight the fire. Fortunately the BCWS IA crew, stationed in Bralorne, was on patrol close to Gun Lake and arrived on scene at 10:30am.
By 11:00am GLF was demobbed and headed back to the fire hall. The BCWS IA crew was on scene until 11:40am to ensure that no hot spots remained.
The fast response by GLF firefighters and the BCWS IA crew had an enormous impact on the prompt resolution of this fire!!
Thanks to all that kicked it so hard this morning!!
Photo: Lois Bismeyer
2024: Medical Assist
July 23, 2024. GLF received a request from B.C. Ambulance Service to attend an address at Gun Lake for a medical assist. Members of Gun Lake Fire attended the scene and safely carried the injured person, on a stretcher, up a steep hill to the waiting ambulance.
2024: Truax Creek - Fire #K70302
Gun Lake Fire had just finished up getting fire trailers provisioned and various prep work for the 2024 fire season at the regularly scheduled "Fire Hall Sundays" on May 12/24.
A GLF member heading down Rt 40 spotted a fire in the Truax Creek area and came back to within radio range to notify GLF and BCWS immediately.
GLF dispatched several members to set up a radio relay while Fire Chief Al Leighton went down Grey Rocks Road to get eyes on the fire. The GLF member that reported the fire, went back down Rt 40 to observe from the other side of Carpenter Lake and was in contact with the radio relay.
Fire Chief contacted the Kamloops Fire Centre to describe fire conditions. Two Initial Attack crews were deployed by KFC to the area. While waiting for the crews to arrive the fire spread very aggressively with candling and canopy fires occurring. Fire Chief contacted KFC to advise that the fire was way beyond IA crew abilities and a bird dog aircraft was dispatched. GLF was stood down as the IA crews arrived.
May 13/24 Monday morning - aircraft (bird dog and heli) on scene. GLF remained on standby.
Photos: Doug Engstrom & Peter Fuchs
2023: Downton Lake Wildfire - Fire #K71649
GLF was extensively involved in the 2023 Downtown Lake Wildfire K71649 during the summer and fall of 2023.
Key dates:
• July 13, 2023, a lightning caused fire was discovered above Downton Lake.
• GLF tasked by the SLRD to deliver an Evacuation Alert on July 24, 2023.
• August 1, 2023 GLF tasked by the SLRD to deliver an Evacuation Order that was completed to 279 properties in 2 hours. The GLF emergency siren, which had only recently been installed, was activated as well.
• September 8, 2023 Evacuation Order is rescinded.
BCWS arrived at Gun Lake shortly after the July 24, 2023 Evacuation Alert and were based at the GLF building. BCWS was in charge of the response to the fire and it was at their discretion whether GLF members would be permitted to stay in the evacuation zone. Members of GLF, who were fully trained and accredited pursuant to Worksafe BC regulations for Wildfire Fighting, volunteered on August 1, 2023 to stay in the evacuation zone.
These requirements put restrictions on the information GLF would normally provide to the community. It also restricted the number of members of GLF who could be active as GLF had a limited supply of radios and Personal Protective Equipment. GLF has received a grant and is in the process of increasing the number of radios. GLF is also securing quotes to increase the amount of PPE available. GLF has struck a committee to begin the process of obtaining funds and specifications for a new Wildland Fire Truck.
BCWS has expressed their appreciation for the efforts of GLF and the ability of GLF to work in a productive manner under their supervision. GLF members were able to do many tasks which otherwise would have pulled BCWS Firefighters from the front lines of the fire. An excellent working relationship has been achieved.
Since the “official” end of the fire, GLF has been dealing with a number of issues.
• There was significant work cleaning up (burned hose etc)
• Monitoring hot spots daily over the fall 2023
GLF was approached by BCWS to enter into a contract with BCWS to work under the Incident Command of BCWS. This allowed onsite GLF members to assist in activities related to the fire and use of the GLF wildland fire truck and equipment. Members of GLF, who would have been entitled to compensation under the contract, voted to donate their compensation to GLF to assist with the purchase of a replacement fire truck. GLF current fire truck is a 1991 model and is at the end of its serviceable life.
Under the terms of the contract with BCWS, GLF was required to be under the BCWS Incident Command structure and comply with operational requirements. Some of the terms included:
• Any information to the general public was required to be submitted to the BCWS communication division.
• Current S-100 Wildfire accreditation.
• Required to have proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and be equipped with portable radios with BCWS and emergency channels.
• Attend daily safety meetings
• Dispatched and required to do radio safety call-ins by BCWS.
2023: Slim Creek Road - Fire #K71145
On July 5/23 at 6 pm numerous reports came in about a fire on Slim Creek Main. A GLF member was dispatched to have a look at the scene and, shortly after, GLF issued a call out to members. Numerous members answered the call out and were on scene, with the fire truck and a support trailer within 20 minutes.
The fire was a holdover from a winter burn pile and illegally dumped materials placed on top of the area had ignited. BCWS had attended earlier during the day and dug over the ground. When GLF arrived no flames were present but it was smoking through the ground. GLF members began to dig out the burn pile, numerous smoldering logs were pulled out and lots of hot ash was uncovered. About 500 gallons of water was applied to the smoldering ground.
BCWS then arrived on scene and dug out the burn pile further. The fire was still hot and smoldering two meters below ground. GLF retired from the scene leaving further action to BCWS.
This fire had potential to become a surface fire into the nearby forest and, in certain wind conditions, would have been at the north shore of Gun Lake very quickly. Please ensure that all materials are taken to the Gold Bridge dump for disposal and not illegally dumped, this fire had the potential to become a very serious incident.
Photos: Carmen Stacey
2023: Medical Assist
On July 2/23 GLF was notified about a dirt bike accident with possible broken legs. GLF immediately called 911 for an ambulance and a Kamloops medivac helicopter was dispatched. Three GLF members attended the accident location to provide first response assessment and to provide location guidance for the ambulance via radio communication.
Under the direction of the ambulance attendants, Gun Lake Fire members loaded the injured person on to a stretcher and into the ambulance and then into the medivac helicopter. GLF returned the recovered dirt bike and accessories to the injured persons residence.
2023: Potential Holdover Fire
A call came in at 6 pm on Jun 8/23 about a potential holdover fire on the east side of Gun Lake. Seven volunteers arrived at the fire hall and, after a quick briefing, the crew rolled out with the fire truck and one trailer and arrived on scene at 6:20pm. The owner had dug up the ground around the potential hot spot. GLF explored for heat in the ground, found some but nothing significant. The owner put a sprinkler on the site overnight.
Thankfully this call was not a significant event, but with the ongoing hot, dry conditions, GLF was grateful that the owner called right away. The earlier GLF crews can be on scene the better in order to put out the fire or limit its growth until BCWS can arrive.
Photos: Randy Perazzo & Carmen Stacey
2021: Fire K70585
At 6am on May 23/21 a GLF member reported heavy smoke on the east side of Gun Lake between Sapphire Bay and the boat launch.
Al Leighton, Fire Chief, found a Rank 2 fire about 0.3 ha. GLF members responded promptly and by 7:30am a 1200' hose lay was in place and water was used on the fire. By 10:00am the fire was at patrol status.
Thanks to a fantastic effort from our GLF volunteers it was a great outcome.
2021: Woodshed Fire
It was a quiet Tuesday night, Dec 8/21, until a GLF member called "A woodshed is on fire!" GLF responded with eight members on scene within 15 minutes. Arriving at the incident GLF was confronted with a fully stocked woodshed that was completely involved. GLF was successful in preventing the fire from spreading to the forest. Sprinklers were deployed overnight to prevent the fire from spreading.
Thanks to GLF members who kicked it so hard to earn a happy ending to a very potentially disastrous event.
2020: Medical Assist
GLF received a call for a medical assist on June 29/20. A resident had fallen and dislocated a shoulder with a possible break. The ambulance attendants stabilized the patient while GLF rigged up equipment to get the ambulance chair up the 60 plus stairs to the ambulance. The trip up the stairs took less than 5 minutes.
Photos: Norris Girling
Photo: Dave Robinson