For Immediate Release

EOC UPDATE – CONTINGENCY FIRE GUARD LINE WORK

The BC Wildfire Service workplan to conduct precautionary works of creating a Fire Guard Line for the communities of Boston Bar and Canyon-Alpine begins tomorrow, Tuesday, July 14^th and is expected to last for two to three days.

For tomorrow’s work by BC Wildfire, active work areas may include BC Wildfire workers, heavy equipment such as bulldozers, excavators, skid steers, as well as chainsaws, chippers, falling trees, and other hazards. For safety purposes, and for the safety of emergency responders, please stay away from active work areas and follow any access restrictions and Evacuation Orders. After the Fire Guard Line has been created, please continue to follow all emergency instructions.  

This precautionary work of building a contingency line, is a control line that is strategically placed as a backup if primary suppression efforts fail and for potential access purposes if required. Heavy equipment is used which can quickly and effectively remove fuels around identified values down to mineral soil which helps to protect structures if fire impacts a community. The result of these works will support future fire fighting efforts for the current Brunswick Wildfire Complex. While the guard may not be required for this fire, it could potentially protect these values in the future. 

For questions about this work or any questions for the Emergency Operations Centre, contact the FVRD EOC Call Centre at 778-704-0400 or visit www.fvrd.ca/EOC.

Security is a primary focus for the area. Our RCMP partners have increased police presence in the area to support public safety and security check points have been established within the community.

Residents wanting to help firefighters can:

• Follow Evacuation Alerts and Evacuation Orders;
• Stay away from active work areas;
• Keep roads clear for emergency vehicles;
• Remove any combustible items from around your home if it is safe to do so; and
• Monitor official sources that include factual and the most up to date information. These sources include the FVRD website at FVRD.CA/EOC, the BC Wildfire website, and BC Hydro’s outage map, or call the FVRD’s EOC Call Centre at 778-704-0400.

The FVRD is the third most populous regional district in British Columbia and one of twenty-seven throughout the province. The FVRD delivers over 100 services to approximately 340,000 residents across a land base of 13,361 square kilometers. The FVRD’s eight electoral areas include all of the unincorporated communities on the north and south sides of the Fraser River, reaching up beyond the Nahatlatch River in the north and extending down to the U.S. border in the south. The FVRD is responsible for governance, administration and services for the eight electoral areas, each named separately by letters of the alphabet (A-H). Learn more about the FVRD at fvrd.ca.

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Media contact:

FVRD EOC Communications

778-704-0400

EOC.COMMUNICATIONS@fvrd.ca