The fire at Burns Bog is now fully contained.
The latest update from Delta officials notes the blaze is now under control and that although the scale of the fire fight will be reduced, Delta firefighters will remain on scene along with the province’s Wildfire Service team and Metro Vancouver firefighters.
It was also decided that the full closure of Highway 17 between Highway 99 and Nordel Way was no longer necessary to contain the fire. It was reopened Wednesday afternoon.
“The decision to close any street or evacuate a business is never made lightly and we fully appreciate the impact on the traveling public and all those impacted. However, these strategic closures were key in the quick containment of the fire and ensuring that the fire did not impact Tilbury Industrial Park, any other critical infrastructure, and that all of our First Responders were able to do their jobs safely and efficiently,” said Mayor Jackson in a statement.
It will likely take days to make sure the bog fire is fully extinguished.
The stubborn wildfire began early Sunday afternoon in an unforested area on the west side of the bog, between 76th and 80th streets. The fire started in an area where several transmission and repeating towers for radio stations are located, destroying at least one of the towers and knocking a radio station off the air.
Firefighters from across the Lower Mainland and several air tankers and helicopters were mobilized and battled the blaze which quickly grew, eventually reaching almost 80 hectares in size. When the wind changed direction, the fire jump the highway, forcing the evacuation of the Tilbury Industrial Park and closure of the highway.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
Delta is also trying to arrange a site visit with members of Metro Vancouver’s Scientific Advisory Panel.
