Fire candling in the trees in the area of the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire taken on August 6, 2023. (CSRD photo)

By Pete McIntyre & Canadian Press

Shuswap fire

Fire guard a priority on Lower East Adams Lake fire

Aug 7, 2023 | 3:15 PM

UPDATE: Monday, Aug. 7, 2023

Crews continue to work on building a fire guard to help protect North Shuswap communities to the south of the Lower East Adams Lake fire, including Lee Creek.

“This 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,” a news release from the Columbia Shuswap Regional District on Monday said.

A unit crew is preparing to conduct ignitions on the south flank following the equipment line as part of the guard construction.

“BC Wildfire is emphasizing that it is critical for residents in the North Shuswap to prepare their properties for fire. Information is available from the CSRD FireSmart Program at www.csrd.bc.ca/firesmart and from BC Wildfire,” the CSRD said.

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As of 3 p.m. Aug. 7, the fire was estimated at 4,823 hectares, same estimate as of Saturday. It is still classified as out of control.

Depending on the weather conditions and associated fire movement over the coming days, the Lower East Adams Lake fire has the potential to impact communities to the south of the fire, including Lee Creek.

Information from BC Wildfire indicates all current Evacuation Orders and Alerts in the CSRD will remain in place. The situation is being re-evaluated daily. However, it appears unlikely there will be a change in any orders or alerts until at least mid-week.

There is a risk of thunderstorm activity and erratic winds in the later afternoon and evening. This may increase fire activity.

Helicopters and structure protection crews will attack hotspots upslope of the properties on Rawson Road. They will also be maintaining structure protection systems in the area.

A smoky skies advisory is in place for the Shuswap today and this continues to make visibility and accurately mapping the fire perimeter difficult.

Original story

Wildfires on both sides of Adams Lake in the B.C. Interior have prompted evacuation orders as crews continue to battle the blazes over the long weekend.

A post by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District on Sunday says the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire has grown minimally, days after residents were hastily evacuated after a drastic wind shift began blowing the fire toward lakeside properties.

The regional district says heavy smoke has made visibility poor and weather conditions are poised to increase the fire’s behaviour due to dry and hot conditions.

More than 90 properties in the regional district remain on evacuation order, and on the other side of the lake, 13 properties on a forest service road were ordered evacuated Sunday afternoon due to the Bush Creek East wildfire.

The lake is bisected by the boundary between the Columbia Shuswap Regional District and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, the latter ordering properties along the Adams West Forest Service Road evacuated late Sunday afternoon.

In the province’s northern Interior, the BC Wildfire Service said Sunday that members of the Canadian Armed Forces are now arriving in the community of Houston to help with the evolving wildfire situation in a record-breaking year for square kilometres burned.

The Canadian Press