File photo (Image credit: Adam Donnelly/CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

Wildfire Watch

Smoke cover and rainfall expected to lessen short-term fire behaviour from Bush Creek East wildfire

Aug 21, 2023 | 7:04 AM

KAMLOOPS — Fire crews battling the 41,000-plus-hectare Bush Creek East wildfire in the Shuswap could have some short-term relief this week.

In an update Sunday (Aug. 20) night, the BC Wildfire Service says smoke cover and around two-to-three millimetres of precipitation Monday evening are expected to help lessen wildfire behaviour in the short-term and allow crews to work closer to fire perimeter. However, the wildfire service notes there is an ongoing risk of extreme fire behaviour.

Based on the current forecast, the wildfire service expects fire behaviour to decrease after Monday. The wildfire service says easterly winds are expected to reach gusts of up to 40 km/h Monday.

In the meantime, the wildfire service says it’s monitoring properties on both sides of Adams Lake and is working with B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation to rebuild the Holding Bridge and get Holding Road cleared. The estimated time for repairs is four-to-five days.

Elsewhere, the wildfire service says crews completed a control line upslope of structures north of Little Shuswap Lake. A control line is also being created upslope of structures in Lee Creek. Crews with heavy equipment also started building guard below the fire’s edge in Celista, working towards Magna Bay. Heavy equipment is also staged in Turtle Valley in preparation for guard construction.

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Around the west side of Sorrento, crews were working the fire perimeter around structures. Additionally, increased fire activity developed near Highway 1, and crews created control lines connected to it.

Highway 1 between Chase and Sorrento remains closed as of Monday morning. DriveBC says a detour remains available via Highway 97, 97A and 97B.