Vernon Matters file photo

By Liam Verster

Lower East Adams Lake Wildfire

UPDATE: Evacuation Alerts expanded for Shuswap area

Jul 20, 2023 | 6:08 PM

Update 9 a.m. Friday, July 21:

More Evacuation Alerts have been issued in relation to the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire.

The Adams Lake Indian Band has issued an Evacuation Alert for the Adams Lake Indian Reserve I.R. 1 – Cstèlen (Hustalen), while the Thompson-Nicola Regional District has issued an Alert for a segment of Electoral Area O, also known as the Lower North Thompson.

The Evacuation Alert area identified by the Adams Lake Indian Band (photo courtesy of the Adams Lake Indian Band)

The highlighted area of Electoral Area O is under an Evacuation Alert due to the Lower West Adams Lake wildfire (image courtesy of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District)

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The Evacuation Alerts build on the one issued by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, which can be seen below.

In all these cases, residents are asked to be prepared to evacuate by having a grab-and-go bag packed with medication, important documents, eyeglasses, enough clothing for 72 hours, and other essential items.

As of 9:20 a.m. the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire was still estimated at 70 hectares and classified as Out of Control.

It’s believed the fire was sparked by a lightning strike.

— Original Story —

Nearly a hundred properties in the Shuswap have been placed on Evacuation Alert.

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) issued the alert for 92 properties in the Lower East Adams Lake area at approximately 5:50 p.m. Thursday, July 20.

The alert was issued as a wildfire burning near Lower Adams Lake 21 kilometres north of Chase had increased to 70 hectares as of 5:54 p.m. Thursday.

The Evacuation Alert affects all properties from 2597 to 2900 Rawson Rd. in the CSRD Electoral Area F.

The properties under the Evacuation Alert due to the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire Thursday, July 20 (image courtesy of the CSRD)

The CSRD noted the alert is a warning about a potential threat to life and/or property and people in the affected area are advised to locate their grab-and-go bags containing necessary items like medication, valuable papers, eyeglasses, and enough clothing and incidentals for a 72 hour period in case the alert is expanded into an Evacuation Order.

People with friends or family members in the affected area are encouraged to contact them to ensure they are prepared as well.

The B.C. Wildfire Service told Vernon Matters ground crews were unable to reach the site Thursday due to difficult terrain impeding access.

The BCWS did note one helicopter was bucketing while another was being used to track the fire activity Thursday.

As of 6 p.m., the fire was an estimated 70 hectares in size and still classified as Out of Control.

It’s believed the fire was sparked by a lightning strike.