Damage to the Chevron (former Race Trac Gas in the North Shuswap. (Photo via Kim MacGregor)

The Chief of Skwla̓x te Secwe̓pemcu̓lecw says it will be working with Samaritan’s Purse – an evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization – to dig through the remnants of their homes that were destroyed by the Bush Creek East wildfire.

But Kukpi7 James Tomma says he is not sure how much there is to salvage.

“It burned quite hot,” he said, of the Bush Creek East fire. “We lost our vehicle around houses but it actually melted anything that had a melting point, aluminum, everything like that so. We’re hoping that we can find some of our keepsakes.”

“Some very kind people from Samaritans Purse are going to go through and assist us with the sifting through for the lack of a better word ashes to see if we can get any type of keepsakes or anything that may have survived.”

A total of 85 structures on Skwla̓x land were destroyed by the wildfire with 13 others suffering partial damage. Another 139 structures had no damage, band spokesperson Larry Read, said in late August.

According to the latest estimates, of the 85 total structures, 31 were homes that belonged to band members.

“It was devastating, not only on a personal level but as Kukpi7,” Tomma added. “The Friday that [the fire] happened is a day they’ll never forget.”

Speaking on NL Newsday, Tomma confirmed that work to get band members who did not lose their homes back into their properties is currently underway.

“We have to exercise due diligence and make sure that their homes are going to be safe to go through with smoke damage and the potential of contamination of soot and chemicals that burned during the fire, so they don’t suffer any type of cumulative effects,” Tomma said, adding he is hoping to have that process completed in about a month.

Tomma also says work to set up temporary housing on Squilax land for band members who lost their homes is also underway, a process that could take as long as six months to complete

“Our band members expressed they just want to be home and even if its just on the land, they want that,” Tomma said. “It is going to be a big undertaking but it is something that we have to do.

“Regardless of whether they have a home, they want to be back on our land, Skwla̓x te Secwe̓pemcu̓lecw. The bottom like is what we can actually get on the ground as soon as possible, and be comfortable through whatever season we have to go through at the time.”