A look at the Bush Creek East Fire in the Sorrento area around 9pm, Aug. 18, 2023. (Photo via CSRD)
The BC Wildfire Service says crews in the Sorrento area are working to defend structures from a wildfire which took a significant run through the North Shuswap and Adams Lake area on Friday.
It also says the fires – the Lower East Adams Lake and Bush Creek East fires – have merged into one and will be referred to as the Bush Creek East fire moving forward. While it is currently estimated to be 410 square kilometres – 41,041 hectares – in size, the Wildfire Service says that information may not be accurate.
“Due to poor visibility, an accurate updated perimeter track is not currently able to be obtained through geographic mapping,” it said. “The latest perimeter has been obtained from thermal scanning and the data may be skewed by radiant heat.”
“Once visibility improves, an accurate perimeter will be mapped and the perimeter will be updated on the BC Wildfire Service map. Do not rely on this perimeter to determine structural impacts.”
An updated perimeter of the Bush Creek East fire as of August 19, 2023. (Photo via BC Wildfire Service)
In the Sorrento area, which was put on evacuation order earlier today, the fire is an interface fire with structural firefighters engaged in active structure defence.
It said a “task force” of engine trucks and tenders were working in Sorrento to slow fire progression. Crews were working in the Elson Road area to remove fuel and extinguish hot spots around structures.
“Wildland firefighters are working to slow the progression of the wildfire toward other structures in the wildland-urban interface,” the Wildfire Service added, noting the Sorrento Fire Department had also been engaged for the past 24 hours.
“There are currently initial attack crews and a task force of water tenders supporting. There will be a night shift initial attack crew that will remain on site overnight.”
Another area of focus for the Wildfire Service is the area around Little Shuswap Lake.
“The fire has progressed to the lake and there are potential structural impacts,” the Wildfire Service said Saturday evening. “A unit crew is working on building guard from the west above structures, this guard is expected to be completed by the end of day.”
“Heavy equipment options are being assessed.”
In the Lee Creek area of the North Shuswap, BCWS says the fire remains upslope of Lee Creek drainage but is backing toward Freeman Road.
“There is a structure protection strike team engaged in structure defence, the BC Wildfire Service said. “In all other areas, the planned ignition that occurred on [Aug 17] has held the fire north of the powerlines, west of the Lee Creek drainage, and north of structures in the community of Lee Creek.”
In the Scotch Creek area, it says there are structure protection personnel actively engaged in structure defence and mop-up around structures.
In Celista, there was still active fire reported, with structure protection crews “Actively engaged” on Meadow Creek Road and Evans Road.
Earlier today, John MacLean with the CSRD’s Emergency Operations Center told Radio NL that one saving grace was that the bridges which are key access and egress points to the North Shuswap – while damaged in some cases – did survive.
Poor visibility in the area meant helicopters were not able to bucket the fire this afternoon. However, the BC Wildfire Service said airtankers were able to lay a line of retardant this morning above Little Shuswap Lake before visibility was reduced.
“There has been less than half a mile of visibility all day over most of the Adams Lake area. It is as low as a quarter mile in some areas,” the BC Wildfire Service said.
“Flying in limited visibility exposes pilots and their passengers to a higher risk of an airspace incursion, collision with an obstacle or terrain and a loss of spatial orientation.”
Late Friday night, the Adams Lake Indian Band issued an evacuation order for the Sahhaltkum IR #4 near Chase and the Stequmwhulpa IR #5 between Chase and Sorrento. An evacuation order is also in place for the Little Shuswap Lake Band’s Quaaout 1 reserve and its properties on its reserve between Scotch Creek and Lee Creek.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District, Columbia-Shuswap Regional District, Village of Chase, and the Neskonlith Indian Band also issued numerous evacuation orders and alerts in area Friday and Saturday.
Power remains out for some residents in the area, with expectations that it will take some time to get back online.
For the latest from the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District, go here.
For the latest from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, go here.
