A small wildfire sprang up near Panorama Mountain Resort late last week, but fire crews reacted quickly and the blaze is now under control.
The fire, dubbed the Barbour Creek fire by the B.C.’s Southeast Fire Centre, began about 2.5 kilometres west of Panorama. It was first reported on the afternoon of Friday, August 8th at about 4:30 p.m. and drew an immediate response, with firefighters from Panorama Fire Rescue and the Invermere/Windermere fire department pitching in along with B.C. Wildfire Service to battle the blaze.
As of the Pioneer’s press deadline on Tuesday, August 12th, the fire was firmly under wraps.
“It’s 100 per cent contained, completely under control and is being monitored,” said Southeast Fire Centre fire information officer Carlee Kachman.
At its maximum the fire was about 1.25 hectares in size and had roughly a dozen personnel on site, along with two helicopters. The firefighters placed a hose line all around the perimeter of the fire area to keep it from spreading. By Tuesday, six personnel were on hand keep watch over the blaze.
The fire was near the Placer Fire Service Road, which joins onto the Toby Creek Forest Service Road near Greywolf Golf Course.
Panorama Mountain Resort marketing manager Jamie Hurschler told the Pioneer that with all the smoke for other wildfires already in the air at the time, smoke from the Barbour Creek fire was not noticeable when the fire began. Rain later on the weekend cleared the skies.
Mr. Hurschler and, in a press release, resort chief executive officer and president Steve Paccagnan, both praised the speedy efforts of the firefighters.
“We’re thankful for their hard work, and that they were able to jump into action on the fire so swiftly,” said Mr. Hurschler.
“I would like to thank the community for their vigilance and stepping forward to report the fire and for the quick response by hardworking Fire Rescue Services personnel and BC Wildfire Services,” said Mr. Paccagnan in the release.
According to Ms. Kachman the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but, as with almost all wildfires, was likely either the result of a lightning strike or was human-caused.
