Fire crews seen extinguishing the flames that were making their way up the tree where the eagles had their nest. Photo courtesy of Bernie Hudyma on Twitter: @BernieHudyma
Local and provincial fire crews are battling a 500-hectare wildfire east of Kamloops. Along with the threat to homes and businesses many animals are being displaced by the blaze.
After receiving reports on Friday around 6 p.m. of the fire threatening a nest that had two juvenile eagles crews went to work and first tried using a helicopter with a bucket to protect the young eagles.
“It was a nest of young eaglets and they weren’t leaving their nest, It was super important for the residents of that area to save the eagles,” said Darryl Cooper, a platoon captain at Kamloops Fire Rescue.
“The helicopter couldn’t get in close enough to get the fire so we called in ground crews and we contained the fire from the ground.”
Crews were able to stop the flames right as they were creeping up the tree to the nest. Many residents took to social media thanking them for their efforts.
Thanks to all the firefighters for protecting us from Shuswap road fire in Kamloops
Special thanks to those who prevented the tree from burning through that had a nest with a family of eagles in it. pic.twitter.com/FU4ap9QVZ3
— Coop (@ldcooperg1) July 14, 2018
Great job done by @BCGovFireInfo and @KamFire to put the fire out in the tree holding the eagles’ nest and keep it wet while fire was close by Those lives were precious to people in #Kamloops too pic.twitter.com/H7trUcHF0z
— Allen Douglas (@ADouglasPhotos) July 14, 2018
Cooper says it was a unique call but was glad they were able to be saved.
“The eagle call is the first I have heard of, but everything from deer down to rattlesnakes and everything in between being moved by the fire.”
The fire is 70 per cent contained and is suspected to have started as a result of a construction chop saw.
Julian Kolsut
