Image Credit: Facebook / Barbara Roden

By James Peters

Shetland Creek Wildfire

Firefighters spend Sunday keeping Shetland Creek blaze away from Ashcroft, Hat Creek Valley, Spences Bridge

Jul 21, 2024 | 4:44 PM

UPDATE (6:00 p.m.): Highway 1 between Cache Creek and Spences Bridge is now closed due to wildfire.

EARLIER: ASHCROFT, B.C. — While the massive Shetland Creek wildfire threatens property on several flanks, B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) and other firefighters are seeing some success keeping it in check.

In an update posted to its website Sunday afternoon (July 21), BCWS says its crews have been deploying structural protection apparatus in the Venables Valley and along Oregon Jack Road.

Structural protection is also taking place in the southern parts of Hat Creek Valley and a guard is being built to protect the community.

To the south, BCWS says the fire has spotted over the Murry Creek Forest Service Road and is displaying Rank 5 (aggressive) behaviour, but is still not an imminent threat to the community of Spences Bridge.

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: If it's Tuesday, this must be Kamloops

3h ago

Question of the Week

Is returning to a balanced budget one of your BC election priorities?

Oct 07, 2024

BC Votes

B.C. Election 2024: Where to go, how to register ahead of advance voting

Oct 07, 2024

On the northeast flank closest to Ashcroft and Cache Creek, the fire has shown no growth in the past 24 hours, according to a Voyent Alert! message distributed by the Village of Cache Creek.

The message notes authorities have been impressed by how well firefighters have kept the fire in check and east of Hat Creek Valley.

The village also notes weather patterns are expected to change in the coming days, which could change fire behaviour, though the village says that is not cause for panic.

An evacuation order remains in place for the Venables Valley. The communities of Spences Bridge and Ashcroft are on evacuation alert, as well as the southern portion of Cache Creek.

Meantime, the Thompson Nicola Regional District has an information meeting for evacuees planned for Monday evening. It is set for 6:00 p.m. at the Hal Rogers Centre in Kamloops’ Albert McGowan Park. More information is available here.