Scotch Creek Fire Hall after the Bush Creek East wildfire swept through the community (Image credit: CFJC Today/File photo).

By Aaron Schulze

Bush Creek East Wildfire

CSRD residents asked to give thoughts on Bush Creek East wildfire experience ahead of next wildfire season

Feb 28, 2024 | 11:00 AM

SCOTCH CREEK, B.C. — Residents within the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) are being asked to share their experiences during the Bush Creek East wildfire in the North Shuswap last summer.

The CSRD opened an online survey and is host multiple in-person and virtual sessions throughout March so residents can provide their feedback.

In a news release issued Wednesday (Feb. 28), the CSRD says it’s seeking feedback so it can carry out some, but likely not all of the suggestions for improvement ahead of the 2024 wildfire season.

“We recognize that there are valid community concerns regarding rebuilding, environmental damage and geotechnical hazards,” the CSRD states. “These concerns are not the focus of this engagement process, which is designed to look back at last year’s wildfire experience. Moving forward, some of these ongoing issues will be addressed later on by the CSRD or other agencies.”

Residents’ feedback will be used to help the CSRD learn how people received information during the Bush Creek East wildfire, gather information to improve its preparedness for the future and offer FireSmart tips and personal preparedness tools.

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The sessions scheduled include:

• Thursday, March 7, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Sorrento Memorial Hall, 1150 Passchendaele Road, Sorrento
• Saturday, March 9, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at North Shuswap Elementary School, 5295 Squilax-Anglemont Road, Celista
• Sunday, March 10, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Lakeview Community Centre, 7703 Squilax-Anglemont Road, Anglemont
• Monday, March 11, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Quaaout Lodge, 1663 Little Shuswap Lake Road
• Wednesday, March 13, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., virtual session
• Thursday, March 14, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., virtual session

The survey for CSRD residents is open until March.

The Bush Creek East wildfire grew to 45,613 hectares and destroyed 176 homes in the North Shuswap.