A group of Fire Boss aircraft are drawing water from Williams Lake as they support firefighting efforts responding to four new wildfires in the area on Sunday, Aug. 10.
Fire Bosses are amphibious single engine airplanes, Air Tractor 802s, which can pick up water to drop on wildfires.
Four new fires were being responded to by Cariboo Fire Centre, in B.C.'s central interior, with the air tankers providing at least some of the air support.
The closest wildfire to Williams Lake showed on the map as being about 11 km south of Williams Lake and estimated at a third of a hectare as of 8 p.m.
A second fire, south of Murphy Lake, was estimated at two hectares, and is approximately 33 km southeast of Williams Lake.
One slightly further south was estimated at 0.1 hectares and was about 18 km west of Lac La Hache, south of Williams Lake.
A fourth fire, being called the Emerald lake fire, about 39 km south of Williams Lake and 47 km west of 100 Mile House, is estimated at 100 hectares in size. This fire is being responded to by ground crews, heavy equipment, fixed wing aircraft and rotary wing aircraft.
Cariboo Fire Centre said crews are reporting Rank 4 fire behaviour, which is a vigorous surface fire and intermittent torching.
The fire is visible from the communities of Stswecem鈥檆 (Dog Creek) and Xgety鈥檛em (Canoe Creek).
All four fires are currently listed are as out of control and as being suspected lightning fires. Hot, windy conditions have dried out the area following thunderstorms last week.
