Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Michael Reeve

WILDFIRE SEASON 2023

‘Just exploded this afternoon’: Adams Lake evacuee recalls wall of fire approaching

Aug 3, 2023 | 11:13 AM

ADAMS LAKE, B.C. — The Lower East Adams Lake wildfire turned 180 degrees on Wednesday (Aug. 2), moving toward the community of Dorian Bay and spreading rapidly across the hillside above the lake, leaving residents to flee via cable ferry.

“This one just exploded this afternoon, absolutely exploded. It went from a few puffs of smoke coming over the horizon,” said Doug Andrew, who was forced to leave.

Andrew told CFJC Today his wife left earlier in the afternoon, and he himself was actually planning to stay, before getting a far-too-close look at the fire approaching.

“It was just absolutely monstrous. We had sprinklers on the roof, fire pumps running, outdoor sprinklers going, but when you saw that fireball coming, there wasn’t a chance in anything,” said Andrew. “The chemical bombers go over and they couldn’t even slow it down. Hellcats have been flying non-stop, the seven of them and the fire has progressed almost as far as the ferry landing on the other side,” stated Andrew.

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As residents headed west across the lake, fire crews were charging headlong into the wall of fire to help protect properties.

“We are heading over as of right now to protect the reserve over on the other side. Just in terms of jurisdiction, the rest is covered by CSRD, so it’s not in our jurisdiction and they have resources on the way as for as I know,” said Adams Lake Fire Lt. Drosten Lapinsky.

“We have a SP (structural protection) trailer, Type 2 trailer, that will help protect up to 45 houses. That will cover all our houses on IR #1, plus if CSRD needs us to cover them as well we will help out,” added Band Councillor and Firefighter Cory Sampson.

On Thursday morning (Aug. 3), miraculously, the BC Wildfire Service reported no loss of structures, stating crews were able to hold the fire primarily north of Rawson Road. That news will likely come as a surprise to Andrew who strongly believed his home was gone.

“Fingers crossed, we have a lot of the forestry crew over there now. Hopefully they can save some of our places, but it didn’t look good when we left,” recalled Andrew.

Ground personnel and aircraft will continue to action the blaze on Thursday.