Auditor General questioned on stalled wildfire planning

Macdonald asks Auditor General to examine follow-through on Filmon wildfire report.

New Democrat forests critic Norm Macdonald has asked Auditor General John Doyle to examine the B.C. Liberal government’s progress in implementing the 2004 Filmon report recommendations on wildfire preparedness.

Former Manitoba premier Gary Filmon made 42 recommendations, including insisting that the provincial government take the lead in reducing the risk of fires near populated centres. Macdonald wrote to Doyle today, asking for an independent assessment of the status of those recommendations.

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Arsonist pleads guilty

Celista Arsonist pleads guilty to string of arsons.

25 year old Pierre Nault of Edmonton Alberta entered a plea of guilty in connection with separate investigations from August 2009. Nault assaulted two Kelowna RCMP officers as well as being accused of a rash of arsons which occurred in the Chase BC area. Listed below are the charges to which Nault plead guilty to.

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911 to be dispatched from lower mainland

When we read lately that the local fire department would not be dispatching local fire fighters in the future and all emergency calls would be directed to the lower mainland, it looked a bit like perhaps a backward step for the department’s ability to quickly and efficiently serve the area in the event of a fire emergency. So we talked personally to Brad Shirley, Chief of the Salmon Arm Fire Department, asking him what it was all about and how he, personally felt this move by the Regional District would affect his department and the service they were mandated to provide.

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Premier says thanks for firefighting help

B.C. thanks Canada for firefighting efforts.

At the B.C.-Alberta-Saskatchewan joint Cabinet meeting, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell extended thanks to Alberta and Saskatchewan crews that assisted in fighting B.C.’s wildfires.

“This past summer, British Columbia had one of the most challenging fire seasons on record, with over 3,000 fires, of which over 200 directly threatened communities,” said Premier Campbell. “We could not have had the incredible success in protecting communities without the expert assistance of fire personnel from across Canada. We are grateful to our colleagues across the country, and the brave men and women who came to B.C. to assist in our firefighting efforts.”

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Wildfire activity continues

Despite shorter days and cooler temperatures, British Columbia is still experiencing significant fire activity with 250 new fire starts in the last week, Minister of Forests and Range Pat Bell said today.

“Just because children are heading back to school and summer is coming to an end doesn’t mean the public should stop being extremely careful with open flame of any type”, said Bell. “The fire danger rating still remains high to extreme for over 37 per cent of the province.”

Complete campfire bans continue for those areas covered by the Kamloops and Cariboo fire centres. Campfire restrictions are in place for sections of the Coastal and Southeastern Fire Centres. The public is reminded to take note of the latest local information.

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Edmonton man held for arson spree

RCMP confirm identity of accused arsonist..

The Chase RCMP confirm that 25 year old Pierre Nault of Edmonton Alberta, has made his 1st appearance at the Kamloops Courts today and has been remanded into custody until September 11 2009.

Nault who appeared today, September 2nd, 2009 at the Kamloops court house was in court answering to the charges in connection with the Chase RCMP Detachment’s and RCMP Southeast District General Investigation Section investigation into the recent Central Interior arson spree. The arsons occurred between August 28th and August 30th in the Central Interior communities of Celista, Sorrento and Blind Bay.

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Celista arson, unidentified suspect in custody

RCMP stop suspected arsonist on spree in Shuswap communities.

Chase RCMP have one male in custody, arrested in connection with a spree and cluster of arsons which occurred early Sunday morning August 30th starting at 00:45 am in the Celista area.

RCMP officers and local Volunteer Fire Departments began responding to calls of structure and vehicle fires in the Celista area near Chase BC. Shortly after receiving the rash of fire calls, Chase RCMP stopped a Ministry of Forest vehicle suspected to have been stolen, and arrested the male driver and lone occupant. Police have yet to confirm the suspect’s identity, who was arrested in connection with the five arson incidents and in connection with the theft of the truck. RCMP located the male within two hours of the arson spree beginning.

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RCMP assisting in fire areas

Central Interior, North Okanagan RCMP continue to provide assistance in multiple fire affected areas.

Currently, several RCMP detachments in the Southeast District are assisting the Thompson Nicola Regional District, Columbia Shuswap Regional District and the Ministry of Forest Wildfire Management Branch in two geographical areas with several communities affected by fires.

The Clinton Detachment continues to provide resources to maintain perimeter security and entry control points in the affected areas. There are currently thirteen (13) RCMP members dedicated to provide 24 hour fire duty coverage to the area referred as the Kelly Lake Fire.

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Lions Head wildfire evacuation alert

On 2009-08-21 (Friday) at 23:00 hours an evacuation alert was issued for residents of the Kamloops Shuswap Road East including Warren Road, McNulty Road and resident’s North of these locations. The fire has been dubbed the Lion’s Head fire.

The alert has been issued by the Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD). The alert is issued as a precaution at this time in order for residents to prepare in case the situation worsens.

The fire is being monitored overnight and heavy equipment is in place to action the fire in the morning.

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Kamloops fatal house fire

At 5:23 am on Friday August 21, 2009 the Kamloops RCMP received a report of a house fire at a Condominium complex located at 931 Gleneagles Drive. After firefighters discovered the body of an adult female residing in the condo, members of the RCMP Serious Crime Unit were called in.

A second resident of the home, an adult male was taken to Royal Inland Hospital with undetermined injuries after the arrival of fire fighters. At the present time the RCMP, fire investigators and the coroner remain at the scene. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

Any person with information regarding this occurrence is asked to call the Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000.

Kamloops
August 21, 2009
RCMP file # 2009-22592

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