[Strutz]

Rumor has it we might see rain on Saturday night/Sunday around here and in other areas of southern/central BC. Here's hoping for it. Everything could use a good wetting down right now and perhaps help cleanse the air for the many affected by the smoke.

Smoke was bad again today here though I did see patches of almost blue sky this afternoon towards the west.

[housewife]

Got my fingers crossed for rain hopefully it will be a good soaking.

[Mowich]

I haven't been able to access this topic all week thus was not able to update the fire situation in our area which became a bit more real this past weekend when 9 fires were started by lightning in our area alone though only two of them affected us here at Canim Lake, Hawkins Lake and Eagle Creek. The Hawkins Lake fire started on the ridges above my friend Shirley's ranch - it is still burning but at this time is not a threat to her property or her son's who lives just down the lane - literally. The other fire of note for our area started behind Canim Lake General Store - it is still burning and is 0% contained. Neither fire truly threatened us here at Eagle Creek, nor did they really threaten residents on the S or E side of Hawkins Lake. Shirley's property was the only one that might have been.

Around 9PM Saturday evening, our fire marshal came by to inform me that we were on alert again. By that time, the night was filled with dense smoke so thick I had trouble seeing clearly beyond about 15 meters. The ash was falling like snow. Then it began to rain - but this was black rain polluted by the ash that continued to fall. It wasn't rain so much as ashen sludge that coated everything it touched. I tried to clean my car windows with water and ended up having to use soap and water.

At 1:45AM, the evac order came through. I had been out driving around to check out the situation. I was able to get good look at the Hawkins Fire from a view point on the road above my house. The highest ridge above Hawkins Lake was a cascade of fire disappearing into the valley behind the lower ridge. The Canim Lake fire was actually 3 fires burning along and down the highest ridge and, there was a fire burning above Canim Lake Reserve. When I got back the power was out - a deliberate move by the powers that be to get us out of here - there were two strangers wandering up my driveway. They identified themselves as Search and Rescue and issued me with an official evac order.

I was all packed, had only to lock the door and drive away. I went over to Hawkins to make sure my friend Virginia who is an asthmatic was gone and then to check on a few other people and let them know I was leaving. Then I drove out to 100 Mile only to find that the registration center was closed. By this time, it was around 4AM and though I had a place to stay at the 108, I was loathe to wake my friends up at that hour. So I filled up my car, grabbed a coffee and drove back home. There was a single Interior HWYs vehicle parked at the end of Jones hill just before the reserve and a barrier on the right side of the road. I pulled over, got out, went over to the driver, told him my intention was to go home. He said go ahead as he had no authority to stop me. I never saw a single RCMP vehicle during the evac. I did have a WTH moment when I came down the Rainbow Hill and visibility dropped to about 5 meters but there were no visible fires anywhere near so I came home. Miraculously, the power had come back on while I was away - that and the fact that not a single fire was burning anywhere near a power pole was a dead give-away.

The next day I let my friends and the fire chief know I was back home and hung a ribbon on a tree branch as a sign that someone was still here. Then I started patrolling the roads making sure no one was up to any mischief. Those of us who stayed kept in touch by phone each day passing along the latest news. All of us were of the opinion that they jumped the gun on the alert. None of the fires came anywhere near the roads so egress was not a problem. The S Canim and Canim Lake Reserve evac was probably wise though as the wind was pushing both fires downhill toward the road and all the houses along it and the lake. Sure enough on Monday, the evac order was lifted though we remain on alert with 15 minutes notice to get out. Considering that they are forecasting winds of 60kph and dry lightning starting early Friday morning and continuing into the late afternoon, that's probably a good thing.

[housewife]

Mowich that sounds terrifying. I am really glad to hear you're ok.

We had storm warnings potential for tornadoes and lots of rain today. Which of course made me think of you wondering how you were doing and why I can't send you some of this rain. I keep twitching my nose but nothing happens

[Strutz]

I'm glad you are ok Mowich. Keep hanging in there and we'll keep sending positive thoughts in your direction.

[Mowich]

housewife housewife:

Mowich that sounds terrifying. I am really glad to hear you're ok.

We had storm warnings potential for tornadoes and lots of rain today. Which of course made me think of you wondering how you were doing and why I can't send you some of this rain. I keep twitching my nose but nothing happens

Well it sure made my heart beat a bit faster. But not to worry, if I see flames anywhere close, I'll be out of here. In the meantime, things are what they are and we just hope for the best.

Good grief housewife........you just can't catch a break can you. Sure hope the tornado warnings were just that - warnings with no further turbulence. Have been keeping up on your weather and know that you need sun and hot weather as much as we need the exact opposite. Stay well dear.

[Mowich]

Strutz Strutz:

I'm glad you are ok Mowich. Keep hanging in there and we'll keep sending positive thoughts in your direction.

Thanks Strutz - all those positive thoughts are working so far.

[herbie]

Maybe some of our pissing rain and 10 degree April weather will make it your way!

[Mowich]

herbie herbie:

Maybe some of our pissing rain and 10 degree April weather will make it your way!

It did indeed, herbie! The thunder and lightning have yet to materialize, the winds were gusty for a bit then died down .......and it rained for a little over an hour. The skies were actually clear for awhile. It is blessedly cool and damp right now.

[housewife]

Mowich Mowich:

housewife housewife:

Mowich that sounds terrifying. I am really glad to hear you're ok.

We had storm warnings potential for tornadoes and lots of rain today. Which of course made me think of you wondering how you were doing and why I can't send you some of this rain. I keep twitching my nose but nothing happens

Well it sure made my heart beat a bit faster. But not to worry, if I see flames anywhere close, I'll be out of here. In the meantime, things are what they are and we just hope for the best.

Good grief housewife........you just can't catch a break can you. Sure hope the tornado warnings were just that - warnings with no further turbulence. Have been keeping up on your weather and know that you need sun and hot weather as much as we need the exact opposite. Stay well dear.

Yeah just warnings that day. We got a heck of a lot of rain though. Fingers still cross for rain seeing as the nose twitching didn't work

[herbie]

Well I'm thankful you got weather relief, but I tell you I'm sick of these two week north central BC summers. I actually wore out my furnace this summer! Turned on my damn electric fireplace this afternoon and I think wearing a blanket to watch tv in August is total bullshit.

[housewife]

How goes the battle?

[herbie]

Heard they lifted the alert for your area Mowich. Or was it just the order & still on alert?

[Strutz]

Mowich hasn't been in cka since Friday (25th). I hope everything is ok with her.

[herbie]

That area's under another evacuation order. Hope things are ok...
damn cabin of ours is surrounded by fires, still no access there either!