Shetland Creek Wildfire (image credit - BC Wildfire Service)

By Michael Reeve

WILDFIRE SEASON 2024

Ashcroft residents step up to support those on the front lines, learn to live on the doorstep of a massive wildfire

Jul 25, 2024 | 5:30 PM

ASHCROFT, B.C. — While it’s yet to be seen if the rain will significantly aid in the wildfire fight, it was certainly a welcome sight in Ashcroft after a week straight of smoke filled skies.

“Obviously, in the early days of a fire, when there is a lot of uncertainty, you get those peaks and troughs of optimism and then fear, optimism and fear. That has really leveled out now. We have seen the containment lines and guards doing their job. We know that there are more than 200 people, boots on the ground up there,” said Ashcroft Mayor Barbara Roden.

The Shetland Creek Complex, which includes a pair of wildfires, one of which is now under control, has calmed in recent days, with the majority of growth being away from communities like Ashcroft.

“They seem to be holding in the southern boundary of the Village of Ashcroft at what is called Hat Creek Road, or Oregon Jack Road. It has not crossed that road, so that is really good news. I know that we are looking at the skies, looking at the wind,” stated Roden.

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With the BC Wildfire staging area for the Shetland Creek wildfire only a few kilometres away, those in Ashcroft have taken the opportunity to pay thanks to those putting their lives on the line to protect their community.

“As a community, we can come together and support them,” said Sherri Lynn McKinlay, executive director of BOSS Enrichment Society, whose members have been making lunches for the crews. “Whether you write a note on a bag or bring a $1,000 donation, it’s all relevant. Honestly the little bags from the kids have been great for them. To see them taped in the trucks, that’s what they need to keep going everyday.”

While one may expect the sight of sandwiches and pastries to delight the tired and hungry firefighters, and it does, it apparently pales in comparison with something much simpler.

“We had one young man yesterday, and he got his lunch and he was looking down and he went to his truck and he came back jumping to us, big smile on his face and he said, ‘There are socks in my lunch! I was literally down to my last pair of socks!’ Nobody thinks about stuff like that,” added McKinlay.

The goal for Thursday (July 25) was to bag 100 lunches with 100 pairs of socks for the crew.

With the fire as of Thursday burning away from the community, the municipalities announced that some evacuation alerts for Ashcroft and Cache Creek had been rescinded.

“Safety is absolutely the prime concern and we don’t want to have to rescind alerts or orders only to have to put them back in,” said Roden. “I’ve seen that happen in other places. It just leads to a lot of confusion. It’s the ‘cry wolf’ syndrome. We want to be sure there is no possibility of them coming back before they are lifted.”