Slocan Volunteer Fire Department

02/18/2022

We are recruiting for new members. If you are reasonably fit and willing to train to help out in an emergency, email us at [email protected] or better yet, please fill out this online expression of interest...

https://rdck.jotform.com/mcarmichael/volunteer-firefighter-expression-of

We practice Tuesdays 7-9pm

Please click the link to complete this form.

08/04/2021

The Regional District of Central Kootenay has downgraded the Evacuation Order to an Evacuation Alert for the area from south of Popou Rd north to Ringrose Creek. The previous evacuation alert remains in place. Further details and the latest information on evacuation alerts in the area is available on the RDCK website www.rdck.bc.ca or by calling 250 352-7701.

Here is a link to the most recent update: https://rdck.sharefile.com/d-s8343628a99a7434c9d3c38a2b1a28a21

08/01/2021

Situation Update: N51705 - Trozzo Creek
18:00 on July 31, 2021
** only new information listed***

• Crews continue to suppress fires edge ~5-7km on Lemon Creek FSR where the fire has met the road. Today fire behavior in this area was low enough to engage in direct attack and is currently holding on the roads and guards in place. Confidence in this line holding is moderate.
• Successful burn outs along the Elliott Ridge and South Lemon area increased probability in containment.

Challenges:
• Access to upper Winlaw Creek is limited. The steep rocky terrain, and dead and down trees will make firefighting quite a challenge. Plans are being made on how to safely address this area of the fire.

Objectives for tomorrow:
• Engage in fire suppression and burn outs along Lemon Creek to prevent fire spread north of Lemon Creek.

Plans for heavy equipment:
• Establish contingency guard along the Springer and Ottawa FSR.
• Establish indirect guard from Pedro and Sproule FSR.

07/31/2021

Situation Update: N51705 - Trozzo Creek
18:00 on July 30, 2021

** only new information listed***

• Today’s burn off on the Elliott Anderson FSR increased the reliability in containment.
• Crews are beginning to contain fire ~7km on Lemon Creek FSR where the fire has met
the road
• 90% completed contingency guard along the Ponderosa FSR to Dayton FSR.

Objective for tomorrow:
• Engage in fire suppression and burn outs along Lemon Creek to prevent fire spread north of Lemon Creek.

Plan for heavy equipment:
•Establish contingency guard along the Springer and Ottawa FSR.
• Establish indirect guard from Winlaw Creek to Pedro and Sproule FSR.

Structure threatened:
• Residents near Lemon Creek (closest structures approx. 500 meters downslope) – Evacuation Order in affect

07/30/2021

Situation Update: N51705 - Trozzo Creek
19:00 on July 29, 2021

Observed fire Behaviour: Rank 3 Size: ~4380 hectares

General Objectives:
1- Contain the western flank at Elliott Anderson FSR connecting with Trozzo FSR at 5.5km.
2- Increase containment depth in the Trozzo Creek drainage.
3- Establish contingency lines north of fire.
4- Plan containment lines south and east flanks, implement once western flank is contained.

Resources
• 90 firefighters and single resources
• 21 heavy equipment
• 5 helicopters

Success
• 15% of the fire is contained, predominantly in the Trozzo Creek drainage.
• Guard construction along the top of Elliot Anderson Ridge from ~8 km Elliot Anderson
FSR shoulder to 5km Trozzo FSR is 100% complete.
• Further mop-up along the Elliott ridge, and in the Trozzo Creek drainage.
• At this time (19:00 July 29) the fire has not jumped the Lemon Creek FSR.
• 80% completed contingency guard along the Ponderosa FSR to Dayton FSR.
• Plans and implementation of containment lines along the north and north east sides are
ongoing utilizing the Lemon Creek road series and Holmsen drainage.

Challenges
• The lack of water sources at higher elevations, and the rough FSRs slows the delivery of water by rock trucks and tenders.
• The volume of dead and down trees at higher elevations is a significant driver of fire
behavior.
• Steep, rocky and complex terrain of Trozzo and Lemon Creek drainages makes guard
location and construction an ongoing challenge.
• Dense smoke limits visibility for fixed wing aircraft to safely access the fire.
• The July 21st late evening fire growth into the Lemon Creek Drainage initiated a tactical evacuation of residents on (Rooster Road and Popou Road). An Evacuation Order was put in place by the Regional District.

Objectives for tomorrow:
• **NEW** Hand ignition along 3 to 4 km on Elliott FSR to increase reliability in containment along this area.

• Continued guard construction on Lemon FSR, and Ponderosa FSR up to the fire lookout tower continuing North tying into Dayton FSR road series.
• Continued fire suppression along Elliot Anderson FSR utilizing burn outs, hose lays and sprinkler lines supplied from water tenders, skidders, and helicopter buckets.
• Mop up to 100 ft deep along the contained fire edge in Trozzo Creek drainage.
• Monitor fire growth towards the east (Baldface Creek) and South (Sproule Creek)
• Continue to establish helipads and fire containment south of Trozzo FSR moving down into Winlaw Creek drainage.
Plan for aviation resources:
• Reduce fire intensity and spread downslope towards mouth of Lemon Creek drainage.
• Hold fire at top of Elliot Anderson Ridge to Trozzo Creek drainage.
• Monitoring flights

Plan for heavy equipment:
•Continue construction of contingency line, Ponderosa FSR to Dayton FSR road series.
• Further bolster the containment lines in place along Elliot Anderson - Trozzo FSR guard.
• Create containment lines into the Lemon, South Lemon and Holmsen drainages to hold
fire from crossing Lemon Creek utilizing the road series.
• Support crews by filling bladders with water tenders and skidders

Structures currently threatened? Yes
• Residents near Lemon Creek (closest structures approx. 700 meters downslope) – Evacuation Order in affect
• Community of Winlaw (closest residents 3.5km to the W)
• Baldface Lodge 6km to the E
• Sproule Creek residents 8km to the S

07/29/2021

Trozzo Creek Fire Situation Update from Ryan Gow for
July 28th, 2021

15% of the fire is contained, predominantly in the Trozzo Creek drainage.
• Crews and helicopters contained an excursion along the ridge above Perry Creek area.
• Controlled burn off objective in the Trozzo Creek was implemented today and is now holding within the containment lines.
• Crews began working along the ridge between North Fork Winlaw Creek and Winlaw Creek, establishing helipads and suppressing hot spots.
• Containment lines and contingency fuel breaks have been established around the Elliot Anderson FSR 2-8 km, to prevent the fire from growing west.

Challenges:
• Higher winds, lower relative humidity, and hotter temperatures increased fire behavior.

Objectives for tomorrow:
• Hold the fire above 3-4km on Elliott FSR, utilizing the natural backing fire to come to the sprinkler line along the road. This feature is used as it is safer and defendable, while increasing longer term certainty in containment.

Structures Currently Threatened:
• Residents near Lemon Creek (closest structures approx. 700 meters downslope) – Evacuation Order in affect
• Community of Winlaw (closest residents 3.5km to the W)
• Baldface Lodge 6km to the E
• Sproule Creek residents 8km to the S

07/27/2021

Planned ignition for the Trozzo Creek Fire.
This information is also posted at the Slocan Fire Hall.

07/26/2021

Thank you to the community members for donating the delicious food and cupcakes.

07/26/2021

An information board has been set up at the turn off to the transfer station in Slocan. There is also one in Winlaw.

07/26/2021

Due to activity with the Trozzo Creek Fire, on July 21st at 3pm, volunteers carried out evacuation alerts for 277 properties between Perrys' (both sides of river) and Ringrose Creek (South of Slocan). Later that evening and throughout the night, evacuation orders were carried out on the West side of the River. On July 22nd, the majority of those evacuation orders were rescinded (cancelled) and people allowed to return to their homes. An evacuation order is still in place for properties closest to the Trozzo Creek fire.

For up to date information on current Evacuation Orders and Alerts, go to https://www.rdck.ca/eocinfo

Volunteers from local Search and Rescue organisations and Fire Departments, along with RCMP and Conservation Officers worked out of the Slocan Fire Department throughout the night to deliver the Orders.

The picture shows fire area boundaries in blue (Slocan and Winlaw), recent fire perimeter in yellow (province), and recent hot spots in red (satellite)