Outline of Mt. Paul as seen from Lansdowne Street in Kamloops the morning of August 22nd/via Paul James
We’re awaiting an update later on Tuesday from the BC Wildfire Service following a much-needed shot of rain which rolled over the Shuswap and areas of the Bush Creek East fire.
Total amounts are not clear, but at least 2 to 3-millimeters had been expected overnight.
While not nearly enough to douse the fires, the rain and cooler temperatures should give crews a solid window to create fire-guards and do other work, with the BC Wildfire Service anticipating the intensity of the Bush Creek East fire should begin to die down starting today.
No new evacuation orders were issued yesterday.
The number of properties lost still remains unclear.
However, Avery Shoaf of Rust Valley Restorers fame in Lee Creek says the situation in that community is not good.
Avery Shoaf/via History Channel
“There’s some bad areas in there,” said Shoaf while appearing on the Jas Johal show heard on Radio NL on Monday afternoon. “We lost our store. We lost a lot of other buildings in Celista. I do believe my mother’s house and all of her property — and her other place at the water — have all burnt to the ground. I managed to save my shop in Lee Creek.”
At the same time, Shoaf says locals who stayed behind are getting increasingly frustrated with the situation.
“The Fire Department’s out there doing their part. But again, it’s 90-percent volunteer fire people. They have a bunch of rules and regulations they’ve got to follow, and those rules and regulations aren’t that good. They’re not understood by me or anyone else out there.”
South end of Ross Moore Lake fire becomes focus
The BC Wildfire Service now says the southern flank of the Ross Moore Lake fire south of Kamloops has become its priority.
“Work on containment line construction continues along the south flank,” said the Service on Monday evening. “Guard is being constructed northeast of Frogmoore Creek further south, heavy equipment is reinforcing contingency guards from the transmission line east to the pipeline.”
It also says a prescribed burn is being prepared for later this week.
“Crews are engaging with local ranchers as preparation and planning is underway for ignitions along the eastern flank south of long lake road,” said the Wildfire Service on Monday evening. “Ignitions will occur in the next 48-72 hours if conditions permit.”
It also says the weather is starting to cooperate.
“Fire behaviour [Monday] was mitigated by the dense smoke,” said the Service. “There was limited activity and growth. [Tuesday], temperatures are expected to decrease to the teens and humidity will increase to 40-50%, further decreasing fire activity in the short term. This reprieve will give crews a chance to make progress in priority areas.”
Smoke continues to shroud Kamloops
Smoke from the wildfires has eased somewhat here in Kamloops comparative to Monday.
However, as of Monday morning, the Air Quality readings from Environment Canada still put Kamloops at 10-plus, which is at the highest reading on its scale.
On the International Scale, the AQI readings were hovering in the high 300 to low 400’s on southern side of Kamloops at around 5am, while conditions were a lot less intense in the areas toward the start of the North Thompson Valley.
Monday, the official readings for Kamloops hit close to 600 at certain points, making the city one of — if not the — most air-polluted city in the world.
