On August 16, 2003, at about 4 a.m. local time, a wildfire started via lightning strike near Rattlesnake Island in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park , British Columbia , Canada. The wildfire was fuelled by a constant wind and the driest summer on record up to that time. Within a few days it grew into a firestorm .
4-552: The fire spread northward and eastward, initially threatening a small number of lakeshore homes, but quickly became an interface zone fire and forced the evacuation of 27,000 residents, consuming 239 homes. The final size of the firestorm was over 250 square kilometres (25,912 ha or 64,030 acres). Most of the trees in Okanagan Mountain Park burned, and the park was closed. 60 fire departments, 1,400 armed forces troops and 1,000 forest fire fighters took part in controlling
8-400: A type-six engine . Also called a catline . Also sometimes called a fire trail . Also simply hotshots . Commonly called a Red Card . Also called a bladder bag (if collapsible), piss pump , or fedco . Also called fuel ladders . Also called logging debris . Also called a controlled burn , even if it becomes uncontrollable. Also called
12-454: The fire, but were largely incapable of stopping the disaster. There were also a number of aircraft used in an attempt to extinguish the fire, including three private Canadair CL-215s , four Government of Alberta owned Canadair CL-215s , four private Lockheed L188 Electra air tankers and at least one Martin Mars air tanker . Amateur radio operators assisted during the emergency. That total cost
16-615: Was estimated at $ 33.8 million. Glossary of wildfire terms#I This glossary of wildfire terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to wildfires and wildland firefighting . Except where noted, terms have largely been sourced from a 1998 Fireline Handbook transcribed for a Conflict 21 counter-terrorism studies website by the Air National Guard . For related terminology, see Glossary of firefighting terms and Glossary of firefighting equipment . Also referred to as air attack . Also called
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