Houston and Telkwa Crews Aid Big Bar Complex (Pear Lake) Wildfire

A four‑person crew composed of three firefighters from the Houston Volunteer Fire Department in Texas and one from the Telkwa Fire Department in British Columbia has been deployed to the Big Bar Complex (Pear Lake) wildfire in northern British Columbia since August 1, 2026. The team is part of a structure‑protection effort that uses pumps, hoses, sprinklers and other equipment to defend homes and property, creating a “humidity bubble” over roofs to keep flames from igniting structures. The British Columbia Wildfire Service notes that such tactics depend on fire behavior and the specific assets being protected, and it continues to urge residents to adopt the provincial FireSmart program to safeguard their properties.

The District of Houston publicly praised the crew’s professionalism and commitment, wishing them a safe deployment and return home during what officials describe as a challenging wildfire season.