Smoke filled skies near Spences Bridge (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

WILDFIRE SEASON 2024

No properties currently at risk as wildfires burn near Spences Bridge and Cook’s Ferry

Jul 17, 2024 | 5:30 PM

SPENCES BRIDGE, B.C. — The Thompson Regional District’s Electoral Area ‘I’ has been battered by Mother Nature over the past three years. Beginning with the devastating Lytton wildfire in 2021, followed by flooding along Highway 8, and further wildfires in the summers of 2022 and 2023. Now residents near Spences Bridge are watching smoke pour into the valley from a pair of growing wildfires near the community.

That has lead to the Cook’s Ferry Indian Band placing three reserves on evacuation alert, and one other on order. But as of now, no homes are in danger as the fire is burning away from the community.

Preparations, however, are underway in case the two fires burning near Spences Bridge takes a turn toward community.

“We follow the Firesmart guidelines, keeping things trim, keeping things watered. You see we are moving the last bit of firewood we didn’t use last year. Making sure the sprinklers on the roof are working, fresh batteries in the timers, stuff like that,” said Mark Greenberg who lives in the Venables Valley just north of the current wildfires.

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While Firesmart techniques will give the properties their best shot at survival, the knowledge of local residents and the local Cook’s Ferry Indian Band, the original stewards of the land, is vital for the fight, and getting those parties involved will be a topic for TNRD directors on Thursday (July 18).

“It would simply be to be there, be those boots on the ground with the knowledge and hopefully work in coordination with the BC Wildfire Service and it’s something I think is long overdue. I’m really hopeful of what will come out of the discussion on Thursday,” said TNRD Area ‘I’ Director Tricia Thorpe.

Steven Sherwood has been in his post for only a matter of days, as he works to ensure the band is ready to react at a moments notice to potential danger.

“Just train and be prepared for what is to come, and hopefully if it doesn’t and we are all set,” said Sherwood, Cook’s Ferry’s director of protective services and fire chief. “As for the structural protection for one of our community members, yesterday we spent a good portion of the morning inventorying what we have for wildfire structural protection, along the lines of bladders for water, sprinkler systems, hose lines.”

While the evacuated IR #6 is not home to any physical properties, the land holds vast cultural and historic significance to the band.

“The reserve is just a piece of that entire territory and on reserve we have fields and properties and old irrigation systems that are irreplaceable,” said Band Chief Christine Walkem. “We have culturally significant areas and we are trying to protect those as best as we can.”

After consecutive years of Mother Nature’s wrath, the Venables Valley community which has helped put out numerous wildfires, knows the larger wildfires are now in the hands of BC Wildfire.

“Nobody is out here to be a hero. We are here until it’s safe to do so, and right now it’s still safe to do so, so we will do as much as we can,” said Greenberg.