For the second year in a row Cherry Creek near Kamloops is rising and starting to spill its banks.
Arnold Blair owns an acreage along the creek, just next to the Trans-Canada Highway.
“This is normally a babbling brook” he says, “After that hot day we had – 28 degrees – it all broke loose from the snow up in the hills.”
Blair’s house, garage and barn were all flooded last year. His plans to sell the property were put on hold several months while he re-built.
With new owners set to take possession of the acreage dubbed “Happy Daze” May 4th, water levels have risen on Cherry Creek again following several days of temperatures in the mid-to-high-20’s that have triggered a rapid snow melt in the surrounding hills.
Over the weekend, Blair’s daughter put the word out sandbagging help was needed. About a dozen people from across the region showed up to lend a hand, as well as firefighters from the near-by New Afton Mine.
“It’s hard” he says, “but its great to see these kind of people – show up and help – when people need help.”
Ashleigh Kirtzinger and her husband Collin are the new owners of the property and were on hand Sunday to help fill sandbags.
“It’s this or fires where we came from.”
The Kirtzinger family is relocating from Osoyoos where they’ve had a few close shaves with wildfire the last few years.
“The last couple of years they were pretty close. Just over the ridge from us.”
Neighbours don’t let neighbours sandbag alone. Tune into @RadioNLNews Monday morning for the latest on #flooding in the interior. #Kamloops #BCflood pic.twitter.com/CWhn1OZdtl
— Brett Mineer (@MineerBrett) April 30, 2018