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| Murray Foubister / CC BY-SA |
1960 was a HOT summer in the B.C. interior.
It was 60 years ago that the B.C. Forest Service , on July 26, 1960, was rushing an extra 100 men and 8 bulldozers to a forest fire that originated over the ridge about 5 miles from Lace Le Jeune Lodge.
On July 27th, it was said the fire was now 1,000 acres and being fought by 200 men and 18 bulldozers.
This fire had jumped a fire guard and 33 firefighters were evacuated by helicopter on July 29th. Fires’ edge was now only 2 1/2 miles from the Lac Le Jeune lodge and away from the Frogmore Lake lodge. People, summer residents of the “Old Townsite”, north side of Lac Le Jeune, were removing the smaller items from their cabins.
Cattle of the Frolek Cattle Co. were also being removed from the area.
As at August 9th, trees remained on the south shoreline of Lac Le Jeune, but John and Muriel Whitaker’s ski hill operation was destroyed, but would see greater skiing over the coming winters.
The beaver aircraft of Pacific Western Airlines, in November 1960, had seeded the areas of Squam Bay and the “Dean” fire, between Merritt and Boston Bar. Arrangements were being made to seed the Lac Le Jeune area burnt by the summer fire.
Top stories of the year, of the Kamloops Daily Sentinel were the articles on forest fires.
To the residents of the upper and lower subdivision, it might mean the green forested area, surrounding you, have being growing for approximately 59 years.
Researched using Kamloops Daily Sentinel.
Neil Burton/ Aug. 4, 2020.
5 comments:
Interesting history. does anyone know if the aerial seeding of the fire ever occurred? Jeff McWilliams, RPF
Yes the aerial seeding was done. That's why we have all these tiny lodge pole pines.
100 men and 8 bulldozwrs in 1960. How many up there in 2023? Many more, I hope.
No, it was grass seeding not conifers. The Lodgepole pine regenerated naturally from its own seed source.
Neil
Good research. I remember my mother being told by my father ‘if the fire reaches the ridge put the boys and the dog in the car and head to Kamloops.’ My Dad then headed out to fight the fire.
I was 9 and I remember the whole ridge being on fire.
My father and others ended up being trapped at the 3rd Ridge Lk. Saved themselves by wading into the lake.
Peter
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