Mike McCulley, information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service. (CSRD image)

By Pete McIntyre

Update

‘Massive’ amount of damage to public infrastructure due to Bush Creek East fire: BCWS

Aug 28, 2023 | 4:15 PM

The Bush Creek East fire in the Shuswap has created major damage to public infrastructure, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD).

Mike McCulley, BCWS information officer for the Adams complex of fires, outlined some of the damage he has seen in the fire area during Monday’s CSRD fire update.

“There is a massive amount of damage that the local government has to work with their stakeholders to resolve,” McCulley said. “I can see hundreds of burned power poles [which BC Hydro is working to replace]. Downed power lines are everywhere. We have large areas along roads that have danger trees that are being removed.”

John MacLean, the CSRD’s chief administrative officer and the emergency operations centre (EOC) director, agreed with McCulley that there are significant challenges with the road network due to fallen trees, downed power lines and burned power poles.

“We’re working with our partners — BC Hydo is working very diligently to ensure that infrastructure is replaced as quickly as possible. Additional crews have arrived and we’re seeing more and more resources dedicated to improving and restoring those utility resources,” MacLean stated.

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McCulley told the update, there has been “no big change to the size” of the fire over the last week or so, noting it is still estimated at 43,000 plus hectares and still classified as out of control.

“We’ve got 97 structure protection control members working the fire and upwards of 250 firefighters on the ground, including some from South Africa, and some staff hires from within the community,” which he later estimated at around 17 people.

McCulley expects the fire will show more activity with the warmer weather, but added there are no plans for controlled ignitions in the Sorrento area the next few days.

“We are working to firm up the edges and perimeters of the fire. That’s the best tactic that we have,” he said.

A reporter asked MacLean “who gave the order to stop food, water and gas supplies coming to residents who have chosen to stay behind to protect their property?”

“The folks that choose to stay are allowed to do that as adults. The law in B.C. is if you refuse a legal evacuation order, you are to stay on your property and you are deemed to be self- sufficient. We do not supply materials to the folks that make that choice,” MacLean explained.

Some residents have received training from local government and are helping the Wildfire Service in firefighting and with that, they get lunch and water from the BCWS.

The reporter then asked MacLean why family members trying to send supplies to those residents that stayed behind are being stopped.

“We are required to provide security, as best we can, for evacuation order areas and we’re not going to take the risk of having third parties enter order areas at all,”

MacLean added the CSRD is sending in waste receptacles to the Celista Firehall, the Scotch Creek Market and Anglemont and Ross Creek general store to try and collect food waste from homes so it doesn’t attract wildlife to ensure the safety of first responders.

“That is for food waste. It’s not for the fridges and freezers. That will come later [plan is in the works],” MacLean said.