Homes and buildings destroyed, more evacuation orders expected in Shuswap-area wildfires
CBC
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Two fast-moving British Columbia wildfires have burned down blocks of homes, stores and buildings in multiple communities in the Shuswap region, the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) confirmed Saturday.
Residents of more than 3,500 properties in the area had to evacuate on Friday and Saturday as "extreme fire behaviour" is expected to prompt more evacuation orders in the coming days, according to BCWS and local emergency officials.
"We're still going to have a very active and dynamic day and there's going to be challenges and dangers for our people," said Shuswap Emergency Operations Centre risk management officer John MacLean.
Northerly winds blew the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire into Scotch Creek and as far east as Celista on the north shore of Shuswap Lake overnight, BCWS spokesperson Forrest Tower said Saturday.
The fire had not yet entered Lee Creek as of 11 a.m. PT.
Also overnight, the Bush Creek East fire, burning west of Adams Lake, burned into the Skwlax te Secwepemculecw community of Squilax and across Highway 1 between Chase and Sorrento, and began to climb Squilax Mountain on the lake's south shore.
The two fires have essentially merged and cut off access to Highway 1, which remains closed, according to the BCWS and Drive B.C..
BCWS could not confirm the number of homes or buildings burned down overnight and said it was still assessing the damage in Celista.
However,Tower said the damage "is quite significant."
"Celista actually was hit worse than Scotch Creek and the fire essentially ran unsuppressed and unmitigated right through that community," he told CBC News.
The fire grew about 20 kilometres in 12 hours, which is among the fastest growth B.C. has seen for a wildfire, Tower said.
Some of the devastation was visible through thick smoke in Scotch Creek on Saturday afternoon.
