Structure protection now the focus for crews on the ground in the North Shuswap

SCOTCH CREEK, BC — The message on Friday (August 18) from the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD): stay away.

“If you’re planning on coming to the North Shuswap area, we are advising against that at this time,” Tracy Hughes, Communications Coordinator with the CSRD says. “We are not going to encourage anybody to be coming into an area where there is such an active and volatile fire.”

By around noon, strong winds fanned extreme fire behaviour, pushing the fire toward Lee Creek and Scotch Creek.

“The winds were a big issue last night and that wind continues through the day, so we’re monitoring very closely that situation,” Hughes says. “Those evacuations could turn to orders at any moment.”

That moment came shortly after 2:00 pm when the CSRD called for the evacuation of Lee Creek and Scotch Creek after spot fires started popping up in those communities.

“We’re seeing observed rank 3 to rank 4 wildfire [behaviour], so that means it is a surface fire, there are visible flames, there is entire tree consumption in some areas,” Forrest Tower, BC Wildfire Service Fire Information Officer, explains. “That recommendation for an order – an order that has now been issued – is just a reflection of highly increased fire activity as well as all of that ember transfer happening.”

Heavy smoke is making it challenging to fight the fire from the air. However, Tower says the focus right now is trying to protect the many structures being threatened by rapidly moving embers.

“We do have upwards of 80 structure protection specialists, resources that were there this morning,” Tower says. “That number will most likely increase, as we are ramping up with more fire activity.”

With winds expected to calm and temperatures dropping overnight, crews will continue to do their best to stay ahead of the fire.

“Whatever happens this afternoon and into the evening period, we’ll deal with that, we’ll be responding to that,” Tower explains. “Things will have to be reassessed tomorrow morning most likely in terms of where we go from there. From this point, really, we’re on the defence for the next couple of hours into the evening period, just dealing with these increased winds and increased fire behaviour.”