Fire at/near the UBC Botanical Garden

Happening NOW. 11:20pm PST

Via Twitter:

#Vancouver fire is fighting a wild land fire near the #UBC Botanical Gardens, 6804 SW Marine Dr. Report of a 150 ft Fir tree a blaze.

 

listen in to Vancouver fire at this URL: http://scanbc.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page use the Ecomm Vancouver feed.

 

They asked for air support, but there isn't air support at night, so they're getting more ground support and notifying the government. They're waiting for the 150 ft tree to drop before they can do anything with it, and there are some 40 foot trees on fire. I heard them say Old Marine Drive and SW Marine Drive. They mentioned that the cliff is 30 ft away, so it's hard for them to get where they need to be. Now they want to contact the Coast Guard.

 

"Parking lot south of the botanical gardens".

They're getting a lot of chiefs out.

 

thats where they are staging the emergency crews command center. the on scene asst chief has requested assistance and so far 2 other asst chiefs are en route. hovercraft is on site at sea level, problems are access at the cliff area. Hovercraft is predicting fire will travel along cliffside, museum of anthropology is potentially in its path. wildland fire crew 5 and 8 are also en route, 2nd alarm activated a few minutes ago, RCMP now on scene.
FWIW, I got ahold of Daniel and he is headed out there with his camera.

 

I think due to the unique situation they want as much experience there as possible. I wish I had grabbed my camera and headed out half an hour ago when I 'talked' to Daniel.

 

Thank you for posting that. I've just been thinking I should be phoning him.

 

I wonder if Douglas or anyone else would be keen? I dont have Daniel's # for some reason, I thought I did.

 

There's still time. It would be great if they had it out by the time you could get there, but it's hard to imagine that they will. They won't have more foam on the scene for another hour.

 

I heard that, sounds like its getting worse before better. I will leave the picture taking to Daniel, no sense in too many ambulance chasers getting in the way. Besides if I wake my wife up now to tell her where I am going I am liable to be injured ;-)

 

I don't understand - I thought you said you talked to Daniel and he was headed out there. He can contact Douglas. Did I misunderstand?

 

I assume Daniel would contact others but I can't confirm that, we 'talked' via facebook chat then he said he was headed out. I dont have direct contact info for anyone at the garden outside of their office #'s. I will have to remedy that but at the moment its moot.

 

Primary source still going, but seems to be receding, might be burning itself out. First bit of possible good news, but there is that primary source to be dealt with.

Jimmyq, did you go to SLEEP?

 

nope, not yet. I do have work in the AM but I wouldnt sleep anyways knowing that this is still on going. I am monitoring here, facebook, twitter and the scanbc feed for info.

 

OH, there you are. I think Daniel can be the one to decide whom to contact. We don't have phone numbers in our moderators' manual for anyone except Daniel.

 

Back. They are using the Botanical Garden's parking lot as a staging area, but all the activity is to the northwest (away from the Garden). No photos (had it been in the Garden, I would have found a way to take some). As I was leaving, there was another engine headed toward the scene.

 

Thats what I was thinking. Daniel is likely best equipped to pass the word.
Rough estimate of area involved currently is about 1/2 acre or a bit more according to FF on scene. intermittent involvement in that area

 

Good to hear Daniel

 

Here's a Google Map for the area:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll=49.261279,-123.25407&spn=0.020921,0.038581&t=h&z=15&vpsrc=6

I imagine if MOA was considered to possibly be in the path, then so would the President's residence and possibly Nitobe Memorial Garden.

 

seems from the aerial shot that the MOA is a ways off, hope they get it under control and put it out in the short term rather than the long. Since its clear of the Garden, I think I will head off to bed, sorry to disturb your night Daniel.

 

YVR fireboat requested to wreck beach area.

Edit: Meet asst chief at royal vancouver yacht club and proceed to wreck beach with asst chief on board.

 

Thanks for letting us know, Daniel. They have people at the MOA, haven't mentioned the President's office - oh, wait, they're saying right now they're too far north, will go look at a parking lot farther down Marine Drive.

If it didn't compel you to stay out there, I guess I can go to sleep too.

 

Moved 20 ft to the north in 10 minutes, at that pace it'd take 2 days to reach MOA. It sounds like what will be most in danger is the forested area down to Wreck Beach.

It also sounds like the north staging area is moving southward from around MOA to this parking lot.

 

whoa, twice as big as it was 5 minutes ago, not good!

edit: I think they are referring to one of the fire 'faces' or exposures not the fire overall.

 

Gosh, it doesn't sound too bad, with all that effort to help that one guy find the fire to shine a light on it.

jimmyq, thanks for posting the link to the feed.