(UPDATE: Aug. 18 @ 9 pm) – The Adams Lake wildfire has reportedly jumped Highway 1, and evacuations have been expanded.
Columbia Shuswap Regional District issued an expanded evacuation order for the Magna Bay area, and for the Little River Road area.
DriveBC reports that Highway 1 is closed between Shuswap Ave and Passchendaele Road for 18 km. A detour is in effect. Alternate routes are available via Highways 97 and 97A or 97B. The Upper Arrow Lake Ferry will be running 24 hours until further notice due to ongoing wildfires, and because of the highway closure.
⛴️#BCHwy23 - The #UpperArrowLakeFerry will be running 24 hours until further notice due to ongoing wildfires, and because of the #BCHwy1 closure in effect between #Sorrento & #ChaseBC. #ShelterBay #Galena
ℹ️ https://t.co/W3hnqKReoO pic.twitter.com/FOsRyGQXd3— DriveBC (@DriveBC) August 19, 2023
Columbia Shuswap Regional District: Evacuation Order expanded for all of Magna Bay area. https://t.co/w3jhGFohcO pic.twitter.com/2iuirZQ5vB
— Columbia Shuswap Regional District (@ColShuRegDist) August 19, 2023
Columbia Shuswap Regional District: Evacuation Order Alert for Little River Road area. https://t.co/MrQEKtLiVP pic.twitter.com/aGrRzl5cQc
— Columbia Shuswap Regional District (@ColShuRegDist) August 19, 2023
(UPDATE: Aug. 18 @ 6:20 pm) – The situation in the North Shuswap has turned very dangerous for both residents in the area and BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) crews on the scene.
Earlier this afternoon, the BCWS pulled crews back to staging areas for firefighter safety.
The current weather event has caused extreme fire behaviour on the Lower East Adams Lake (K21620) and Bush Creek East (K21633) wildfires, crews have been pulled back to staging areas in the interest of responder safety. pic.twitter.com/nJ9Q0cD2uK
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 18, 2023
At about 5 pm, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) closed the Scotch Creek Bridge due to rank five fire behaviour being seen on both sides of the wooden bridge.
This has resulted in the shutdown of all road access to the area.
“Firefighters have had to back off due to fire behaviour; sprinklers are on,” says the CSRD.
Scotch Creek Bridge is closed - there is Rank 5 fire behaviour on either side of the bridge which has resulted in the shutdown of all road access. Firefighters have had to back off due to fire behaviour; sprinklers are on, we will have an update soon. #CSRD #BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/pmQLx99yEL
— Columbia Shuswap Regional District (@ColShuRegDist) August 19, 2023
People needing to evacuate via the water will have the help of RCMP and the Shuswap Search and Rescue who are set up at the wharf located at 4248 Ashe Road.
People will be transported across to Shuswap Marina Buses and brought to the Kamloops Reception Centre.
People needing to evacuate via water there will be RCMP and Shuswap Search and Rescue boats available at the wharf (4248 Ashe Rd.) and will transport people across to Shuswap Marina Buses will be available to transport those to the Kamloops Reception Centre.#CSRD #BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/KC1vwOSN2X
— Columbia Shuswap Regional District (@ColShuRegDist) August 19, 2023
Due to change in fire behaviour evacuation alerts have been expanded by both the CSRD and Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD).
About 264 addressed properties in the TNRD’s Electoral Area “L” (Grasslands) are under the alert.
This includes the community of Chase.
The CSRD issued an evacuation order for the Celista area up to Evans Road.
All other existing evacuation orders and alerts for Columbia Shuswap Regional Dsitrict properties remain in place at this time.
The Lower East Adams Lake wildfire is still estimated at 10,000 hectares while the Bush Creek East fire, on the west side of the lake, is estimated at 3,287 Hectares
Columbia Shuswap Regional District: Evacuation Order for Celista area up to Evans Road. https://t.co/5ZGU0qrzdx pic.twitter.com/kZ30XRReEb
— Columbia Shuswap Regional District (@ColShuRegDist) August 18, 2023
(UPDATE: Aug. 18 @ 2:30 pm) – Evacuation orders that were predicted to come at some point today for Scotch Creek and Lee Creek have now been issued.
At about 2:15 pm on Friday, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District expanded its evacuation order Friday afternoon as winds picked up on the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire.
All residents in the small communities must leave immediately.
Columbia Shuswap Regional District: Evacuation Order for all of Lee Creek and Scotch Creek areas. https://t.co/8e4vMDY3yx pic.twitter.com/1tlv9vCpsa
— Columbia Shuswap Regional District (@ColShuRegDist) August 18, 2023
Evacuees are being told to take the Trans Canada Highway to Kamloops.
"Evacuees from North Shuswap Electoral Area F should register with the Kamloops Emergency Support Services (ESS) at the McArthur Island Park Sports Centre 1655 Island Pkwy, Kamloops, BC," says the CSRD.
All evacuees should register with Emergency Support Services - follow CSRD on social media or call the EOC for location updates.
If you need assistance with transportation from the area, call (250) 833-3350.
Update on Evacuation route towards Kamloops:
— Columbia Shuswap Regional District (@ColShuRegDist) August 18, 2023
Evacuees must take the Trans Canada Highway to Kamloops. https://t.co/aC9zSMaHvM
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has also issued an evacuation order for 75 properties in the proximity of the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire.
This includes properties in electoral area “O” (Lower North Thompson) and electoral area “P” (Rivers and Peaks):
The TNRD Emergency Operations Centre has issued an Evacuation Order in the vicinity of lower west Adams Lake and on the east side of Adams Lake, affecting a total of approximately 75 addressed properties, due to the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire.
— TNRD (@TNRD) August 18, 2023
Read: https://t.co/dRstZzmfIe
Another 12 properties have bene ordered to evacuate due to the Bush Creek wildfire on the west side of Adams Lake.
The TNRD Emergency Operations Centre has issued an Evacuation Order for approximately 12 addressed properties in the vicinity of Loakin-Bear Creek Road in Electoral Area "P" (Rivers and the Peaks) due to the Bush Creek East wildfire.
— TNRD (@TNRD) August 18, 2023
Details: https://t.co/00dBnGUPXy #BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/lIIYjs9GLA
“To receive Emergency Support Services, please self-register using the Evacuee Registration & Assistance (ERA) tool: ess.gov.bc.ca/,” says the TNRD.
“Report to the Reception Centre, located at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre, 1655 Island Pkwy, Kamloops, BC V2B 6Y9. Make arrangements to stay with family or friends (if possible).”
(Original story: Aug. 18 @ 12:20 pm) – The wildfire situation across the Southern Interior has ramped up and turned into a very horrifying situation for residents, including those across the North Shuswap region.
The Lower East Adams Lake wildfire has prompted new evacuation orders are expected to be issued for the communities of Scotch Creek and Lee Creek.
“Yesterday, the Shuswap Emergency Program prepared for the chance the Evacuation Alerts currently in place for Lee Creek and Scotch Creek would be upgraded to Evacuation Orders,” says the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD).
On Thursday, the BC Wildfire Service engaged in a planned burn which stretch about 14 kilometres in length in an effort to protect those communities and properties along the eastern side of the Shuswap lake.
The fire is still burning out of control at 10,000 hectares and is being fed by high wind speeds, which have changed direction on Friday.
As a result the CSRD issued an evacuation order late Thursday night for the following properties: 4001 to 4596 Meadow Creek Road
An evacuation alert was also issued for 4705, 4831, 4836 Meadow Creek Road and 4989, 4993 Line 17 Road and Celista in Electoral Area “F”.
These evacuation notices were issued due to a spot fire that jumped the fire guard near Meadow Creek Road at the very top of the back burn, the CSRD says.
Click here for a full list of pre-existing evacuation orders and alerts.
Anyone who is currently under an evacuation order must leave immediately and anyone under an alert must be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
“The BC Services Registration Centre has been moved from the Scotch Creek Lee Creek Fire Hall & Community Hall to the Quaaout Lodge Resort, 1663 Little Shuswap Lake Road, Chase,” the CSRD explains.
The centre will be open from 9 am to 4 pm over the coming days.
As for Scotch Creek and Lee Creek and the BC Wildfire Service says “there continues to be no organized movement south of the powerlines where the ignition occurred” north of the two communities.
However, those evacuation orders could come this afternoon as the wind situation continues to be “unfavourbale” says the CSRD.
As of noon, the ignition area is holding, which is helping to lower the risk of the wildfire moving south along transmission lines that area just north of Scotch Creek, Lee Creek and other properties.
