Scotch Creek, Sept 6 (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

WILDFIRE SEASON 2023

North Shuswap firefighters lose their homes while protecting the community

Sep 7, 2023 | 4:44 PM

SCOTCH CREEK, B.C. — More than 10,000 residents had a chance to return to the North Shuswap on Wednesday (Sept 7), after the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) rescinded evacuation orders put in place due to the devastating Bush Creek East wildfire. With homeowners surveying the damage, the long road to recovering is just beginning.

“The only thing that would have stopped it from taking out all this was a wind shift and now we were dependent on mother nature,” said Capt. Brian Dalgliesh, Scotch Creek Fire Department.

The Scotch Creek Fire Department no longer has a fire hall, as it fell casualty to the fast-moving, Rank 6 blaze. Capt. Dalgliesh recalled seeing the wall of fire approach and engulf the back of the hall.

“We were 100 feet away from it — what more can they say really. If you go put your face in an oven you will know what we felt,” recalled Dalgliesh.

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Following the destruction of August 18, which saw the fire moving at approximately 23 metres per minute, the fight to hold back the fire from destroying further property began for the firefighters, some of whom returned mere hours after losing their own homes.

“The first night was a little bit intense for them, but they came back and just went to work. They put it behind them for the time being. Our community needed them and they came out and helped the community. Once this is all over and done with, it’s going to be a different story, of course. But we will save our emotions for when we are done,” said Dalgliesh.

The idea of disobeying evacuation orders to stay behind and fight is always controversial and while the regional district advised helping through official avenues, the fire department was appreciative of the work done by community members to help save homes.

“They were amazing. Unfortunately the fire department is held back by our rules and what we are allowed to do — they were not. They went out and did what they had to do to save their homes and in turn they saved a lot of other homes,” stated Dalgliesh. “I’m thankful for them.”

With everybody able to return, the regional district is preparing to help the community rebuild as fast as possible.

“Today is about closure and coming to terms with what has happened. And then there are so many people focused on, ‘When can I get in and when can I start rebuilding?'” said CSRD EOC Director Derek Sutherland.

Despite the lifting of the order on Wednesday it was reiterated multiple times that danger still exists, and homeowners should avoid venturing off their properties with hot spots still be discovered.

“The good news is we haven’t hit too many in the last day or so, but they are going to pop up. It’s not a matter of if but a matter of when. Everything is underground, there are a lot of roots still on fire, a lot of slag on fire. They are going to pop up,” said Dalgliesh.