(Photo: CSRD Website)
Firefighters battling the Bush Creek East fire in the Shuswap are getting a helping hand from Mother Nature as rain and cooler temperatures help to decrease fire behaviour.
BC Wildfire Service, Information Officer, Mike McCulley says there has been some precipitation on all portions of the fire.
“Not sure of the rain gauge readings yet but certainly, we’re seeing a little bit calmer and quieter fire behaviour on most portions of the Bush Creek East wildfire,” he said.
However, McCulley is still urging caution as winds on Tuesday night caused some growth on the southeast flank of the fire near Sorrento, as that section has been the most active over the past few days.
The Columbia-Shuswap Regional District ordered the evacuation of 14 properties in the area Tuesday night, noting as well that no structures were destroyed as crews fought the fire through the night.
“I would expect that when we get some new mapping in the next couple of days, we’ll see a little bump up in fire size,” McCulley said. “Having said that, again with a jagged perimeter like this, that fire size can fluctuate a little bit up and down each day.
“The real story is not a big significant area of growth other than this finger that came out across Sorrento.”
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- A look at the fire growth on the southeast flank of the Bush Creek East fire, near Sorrento. (Photo via BC Wildfire Service)
That said, he also notes the focus remains on that southeast flank of the Bush Creek East fire.
“We do have a large contingent of crews here. We will continue to be patrolling this area at night, making sure we’re attentive and ready to go if anything changes drastically,” McCulley said. “But currently, we don’t expect that to happen.”
McCulley also noted the situation is far from over, echoing comments made by Emergency Management Minster, Bowinn Ma earlier Thursday. Ma’s comments came as the B.C. government announced a two-week extension of the provincial state of emergency to September 14.
