Work is underway to protect communities south of the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire.

On Sunday, Aug. 6, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) reported seeing minimal growth to the fire, last estimated to be 4,823 hectares in size. However, with persistent drought conditions and a change of weather in the forecast, the BCWS warned the fire has the potential to impact communities to the south, including Lee Creek.

In an Aug. 7 update on the fire situation, the Shuswap Emergency Program (SEP) said crews continued to work on building a fire guard to assist in protecting North Shuswap communities south of the fire.

B次元官网网址淭his guard is partially built on the south flank of the fire, but due to rugged terrain, it will still take more time for crews to complete,B次元官网网址� said SEP, adding a BCWS crew was preparing to conduct ignitions on the south flank following the equipment line as part of the guard construction.

Electoral Area F (North Shuswap) director Jay Simpson said in addition to the fire break being constructed, thereB次元官网网址檚 also a B次元官网网址淧lan BB次元官网网址� in the works. Meanwhile, he said the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) is making plans for Lee Creek and Scotch Creek should the worst happen.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been told a number of times that BC Wildfire is very aware of the communities of Lee Creek and Scotch Creek, they know the populationB次元官网网址� they know our exit routes,B次元官网网址� said Simpson. B次元官网网址淪quilax-Anglemont Road is not the only one although itB次元官网网址檚 by far the best, so thatB次元官网网址檚 going to be their goal, to make sure that road is protected to the fullest extent possible.B次元官网网址�

Simpson said he was endeavouring to keep people informed of the fluid fire situation, using electronic means as well as word of mouth.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 people in the community that I know have the ability to get the message out, or to talk to a lot of people B次元官网网址� for instance Angela Lagore at The Hub,B次元官网网址� said Simpson. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 people in there all the time so theyB次元官网网址檙e able to get the message out.B次元官网网址�

Despite concerns, Simpson credited the CSRD emergency operations centre and administrator John MacLean with doing a B次元官网网址渨hale of a jobB次元官网网址�, and keeping BC Wildfire on track and making sure that weB次元官网网址檙e getting the best out of them.

B次元官网网址淏C Wildfire of course is doing what they do and I donB次元官网网址檛 know anybody that can do it better, B次元官网网址� said Simpson.

SEP said Monday that helicopters and structure protection crews were attacking hotspots upslope of properties along Rawson Road while maintaining structure protection systems in the area. Current evacuation orders/alerts are to remain in place and the situation is being re-evaluated daily.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e fortunate that over the last couple of nights it hasnB次元官网网址檛 moved too far south,B次元官网网址� said Simpson. B次元官网网址淭he next couple of days are going to be kind of critical because weB次元官网网址檝e got this change of weather coming in, winds and potential thunder and lightning and not nearly enough rain.B次元官网网址�

North Shuswap residents are being urged to prepare their properties for fire. Information is available from the CSRD FireSmart Program at and from .

Read more:

Read more:

for our newsletter to get Salmon Arm stories in your inbox every morning.