Volunteers help rescue ranch animals potentially in path of wildfire near Logan Lake

With a growing wildfire threatening properties near Logan Lake, community members banded together to pre-emptively evacuate animals from a ranch.

With a growing wildfire threatening properties near Logan Lake, community members banded together to help move animals from a ranch close to the front lines of the fire fight.

First discovered Wednesday afternoon, the Guichon Creek fire now covers 88 hectares and is burning just over two kilometres from town.

“That’s pretty scary for a little town of Logan Lake because we’ve been through this,’ said resident Lori-Ann Saunders. “So, a lot of high anxiety and just sort of helplessly standing by and watching and trying to prepare as best as you could.”

Saunders told CTV News the B.C. Wildfire Service had planes dropping water on the fire within minutes after a large plume of smoke began billowing from the forest.

Kelly Allen, another resident, was one of several volunteers who made their way to the Logan Lake Ranch on Wednesday afternoon to help load horses and sheep into trailers for transport to safety.

“The fire is right behind the ranch. When I saw that fire so close, you know, we all had to jump on it right away. It was it was a little bit scary,” Allen said.

The BCWS said air resources are dedicated to the fire, along with about 39 wildland firefighters who reported seeing rank three and four fire behaviour on Thursday.

“That just means a surface fire with some open flame, occasional candling, and a slow to moderate rate of spread,” said Cali Nessman, a BCWS fire information officer.

“Crews today will be working on containment, including building guard and establishing hose lay and wet line from the fire’s perimeter.”

In the meantime, BC Hydro says about 1,200 customers remain in the dark due to damage from the Brunswick Creek Fire Complex in the Fraser Canyon and the Big Bar complex of fires near Clinton.

The utility is asking for patience because it could take up to two weeks to restore power in some places.

“It’s going to require significant reconstruction work across quite a large area. So, we don’t yet know the full extent of the damage. Of course, active wildfire conditions unfortunately continue to restrict access,” said BC Hydro spokesperson Susie Rieder.