‘Good Samaritans’ extinguish forest fire near Golden: RCMP
Posted August 18, 2023 7:39 pm.
Last Updated August 18, 2023 8:01 pm.
As hundreds of fires rage across the province, an RCMP Constable and some quick-thinking citizens were able to extinguish a growing brush fire on the side of the road near Golden, preventing its further spread.
Const. Mark Tataryn of the Golden-Field RCMP BC Highway Patrol was driving down Highway 1 near Forde Station Rd. Wednesday afternoon when he noticed a brush fire on the north bank of the highway.
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Tataryn started putting out the fire on his own, using several fire extinguishers from his police vehicle. As he worked on the fire, which was approximately 20 metres wide and beginning to “engulf large trees” and move east, some other motorists, including RCMP officers, stopped to help. They battled the blaze on their own until a Kootenay Pumping truck, which was travelling in the area, was able to join in.
“With the use of their pump and water lines, the group was able to slow the fire to a manageable size,” the RCMP said in a press release.
The Golden Fire Department and the Nicholson Fire Department then took over, and BC Wildfire Services also joined in by helicopter.
“Without the quick thinking of Const. Tataryn and staff from Kootenay Pumping, the outcome could have been devastating for the community,” said Cpl. Lucas Sovio.” A special thank you to all of the local residents, passersby, and first responders who helped fight the fire.
“Rob Ford, Mike Faucet, Brady Hubert, Robert Cowan, and others whose names we did not get, were amongst those Good Samaritans who stopped to lend a hand.”
Mounties say they believe the fire started when a tree fell onto some powerlines.
BC Wildfire Services declared the fire to be fully extinguished about four hours after Tataryn first started battling it on his own.
Media Relations Officer Cst. Kat Robinson said the result could have been much worse, had the citizens and Tataryn not have jumped in.
“This incident almost led to the evacuation of residents in the Blaeberry area,” Robinson said.
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