Fire-ravaged Shuswap region slowly recovering one year after destruction
CTV
One year after hundreds of people were displaced and key infrastructure was destroyed in a tense fire fight, British Columbians in the Shuswap region are on the road to recovery, with mixed results.
One year after hundreds of people were displaced and key infrastructure was destroyed in a tense fire fight, British Columbians in the Shuswap region are on the road to recovery, with mixed results.
Some homes have yet to be demolished, while a handful are nearly complete in the Scotch Creek area. In total, the Adams Fire Complex – a mega-fire that formed after several wildfires merged – saw 176 structures destroyed by flames while another 50 were damaged.
“The community is 3,200 as of 2021 and we’ve lost maybe 99 permanent resident homes, so that takes out a couple hundred people (who remain displaced),” said Jay Simpson, the director of Electoral Area F.
He said many people in the area are looking to re-build or upgrade with fire-proof building materials like HardiePlank and galvanized roofing, while taking a renewed interest in fire-smarting their properties.
“The fire, as devastating as it was, has opened our eyes and we can look forward to better things in the community over the years coming,” said Simpson.
The chief administrative officer for the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District outlined ongoing geotechnical and riparian concerns as a result of fire damage: the flames raged for days, even weeks in some areas, and residents have been warned the soil needs assessment with more than 200 properties at considerable risk of landslides.
“We’ve been working our way through the processes that are involved in terms of redevelopment for the homes that were lost,” said John MacLean.
