File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

Bush Creek East Wildfire

CSRD plans to downgrade multiple evacuation orders related to Bush Creek East wildfire

Sep 5, 2023 | 6:30 AM

SALMON ARM, B.C. — A timeline has been set for residents within the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) who were evacuated due to the Bush Creek East wildfire to return to their properties.

In an update Monday (Sept. 4) evening, the CSRD’s emergency operations centre says residents who lost their structures will have a chance to see their property on Tuesday.

Following that, the CSRD says evacuation orders due to the Bush Creek East wildfire will be downgraded to an evacuation alert on Wednesday.

The timeline is as follows:

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• Celista and Magna Bay – 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6
• Lee Creek and Scotch Creek – 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6
• Lower East Adams Lake and Tsútswecw Park are – 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6

The CSRD asks residents to not show up early for their return in order to reduce congestion.

“Emergency Support Services will remain in place for a short time after the Evacuation Orders are downgraded, so you may wish to consider waiting to return until some of the initial congestion has cleared,” the CSRD states. “If you are not from the North Shuswap, please stay away. We do not need additional people making re-entry for locals complicated.”

Following additional rapid damage assessments in the North Shuswap, the CSRD says the total number of structures lost increased to 176 while the number of partially damaged structures increased to 50.

Residents are also told not to enter burned structures or burned forest area.

“Burned structures are loaded with hazards including chemicals off-gassing, toxic dust which may include asbestos, sharp objects, wires and other overhead hazards, unstable objects including walls and holes in surfaces,” the CSRD says. “Burned forests have significant hazards. This will remain for years. The fire has left behind danger trees – those are trees which can fall without warning even without a wind, due to roots being burned out.”

More details on the CSRD’s plan for residents to return home can be found online.

BC Wildfire Service weather forecasters are predicting cooler temperatures Tuesday as a new weather system moves across the province, bringing the possibility of isolated showers to the region.