July 16-18 2003

On the 16th of July 2003 a 5th wheel with defective breaks showered sparks on the side of Hwy 3

east of Osoyoos sparking a wild fire which threatened all the homes on Anarchist Mountain. 

Most of our homes were saved (two homes were lost) thanks to the heroic efforts of the precursor to

the Anarchist Mountain Fire Department, the B.C. Forestry Service,  the Osoyoos Fire Department as well 

as  responding fire crews from nearby (and not so nearby) communities including Kamloops and

Vernon (BX Swan Lake).  We would like to thank the helicopter and water bomber crews who risked their

lives to save our homes.  A special thanks goes out to the ground crews who protected our homes:

pre-Anarchist Mountain Fire Dept:  Chief Joe Simoes and his crew of volunteers

Osoyoos Fire Department:      Chief Walter Lemke, Deputy Chief Ross Driver and their crew of volunteers

BC Forestry Service Osoyoos:  Bob Knight, Brett Knight, Todd Kunz, Derrick Rucik,

                                          Jeremy Hoffman, Blake Ogilvie, Paul Gablemann

Kamloops Fire Department:     Kirsten Lillow and Robson Swift

BX Swan Lake (near Vernon):   Layne Benner, Christa Helm, Dave Stubbs, Bas Kuyper, Neil,

                                           Kevin (last names unknown - if you know it please email me!)

(all pictures are copyright 2003 Jack Newton or Ajai Sehgal and may not be published without permission)