B次元官网网址淎 very dynamic, very rapidly evolving situation.B次元官网网址�

This is how Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) communications co-ordinator Tracy Hughes described the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire Thursday morning, Aug. 3.

The evening prior, evacuation orders were issued for 92 properties south of the blaze. For the safety of firefighters/first responders, BC Hydro shut power off to the affected area.

The Thompson Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation alert for properties on the west side of the lake and along Adams River south to Ts煤tswecw Park. The CSRD put issued an evacuation alert for an adjacent area on the east side of the river.

As of 10 a.m. Thursday there had been no loss of structures to the fire which, prior to Wednesday nightB次元官网网址檚 southwest advance, was estimated to be 2,527 hectares in size.

B次元官网网址淎s of last night, everybody who wished to be evacuated was evacuatedB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� said Hughes, noting some people elected to stay behind, despite the advice of first responders. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e following up this morning to see if any made the decision to leave through the night or are making the decision to leave this morning. But we do know there are still citizens on that side.B次元官网网址�

Hughes said if any of the people who stayed behind should leave their properties amid the evacuation order, they will not be allowed to return.

B次元官网网址淪o if they want to leave for groceries or fuel- any of those things, once they are out of that evacuation order area, there is security and RCMP, the ferry will not be allowing any member of the public across,B次元官网网址� said Hughes, adding the regional district has been working closely with the ferryB次元官网网址檚 operators. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e been terrific in terms of managing that ferry throughout the night and continuing the service so that fire crews can move back and forth and get supplies on it as needed.B次元官网网址�

Hughes reported no power poles were impacted by the fire, and BC Hydro was working to restore power.

The CSRD has a structural protection team in the area, and firefighting crews spent much of the night fighting the fire on the ground and in the air. Though progress was made with the aerial attack, Hughes warned boaters on the lake are creating a safety concern that can impede the firefighting effort.

B次元官网网址淭hey were making some good progress, but boats on the lake interfering with them picking up their loads of water is a big issue, and we foresee that being an even bigger issue with the long weekend, so people really need to stay off the lake,B次元官网网址� said Hughes. B次元官网网址淚f itB次元官网网址檚 unsafe for those pilots to do their pickups, unfortunately those aerial resources sit idle and theyB次元官网网址檙e unable to fight the fire.

B次元官网网址淧lease do not impede those aerial operations. That particular fire, the lower East Adams fire, is in an area of very steep terrain, itB次元官网网址檚 very difficult to get ground crews in and those aerial resources are very important.B次元官网网址�

The CSRD and Shuswap Emergency Program has set up a reception centre for evacuees at Quaaout Lodge. Hughes said the centre received about 25 people Wednesday night. She urged any residents on evacuation who have not yet checked in with the reception centre to do so, B次元官网网址渁nd then we can help them with whatever assistance or services we can provide.B次元官网网址�

HughesB次元官网网址� description of the East Adams Lake fire B次元官网网址� very dynamic, rapidly evolving B次元官网网址� was spurred by the sudden change in conditions that led to Wednesday nightB次元官网网址檚 evacuation orders. Not long before the first evacuation order was issued, the CSRD had shared BC Wildfire Service projections suggesting there was no imminent threat to nearby structures. She suggested the subsequent mixed messaging may have been the result of the time it took from when the fire was assessed and projections made, to when the information was shared with the public.

B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, in this case, there were definitely some crossed wires, so we need to look in the future at how we are going to do a better job,B次元官网网址� said Hughes. B次元官网网址淎nd that goes for BC Wildfire and us. We are a partner in this. Certainly, BC Wildfire is the lead agency and they are the ones providing us with those necessary details that we can share with our citizens.B次元官网网址�

An update on the fire is expected to be made available sometime after 3 p.m. today.

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