Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Silvia Senna

2023 Wildfires

Village of Chase preparing for worst-case wildfire scenario

Aug 22, 2023 | 4:08 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Village of Chase has been under Evacuation Alert since Friday (Aug. 18) because of the Bush Creek East wildfire which has crept to just six kilometres from the community. With that in mind, firefighters have been doing structural protection to all the major critical buildings in the community.

Brian Lauzon, the Fire Chief at Chase Fire Rescue, said it is a good time for residents to FireSmart their properties. “Obviously we don’t have enough sprinklers for every structure in Chase,” he said. “If you’re still here just be prepared, FireSmart your homes. If you have sprinklers, put them on your roof, test them. Don’t run them all the time. Wait until the call comes and we have to evacuate and turn your sprinklers on before you leave.”

Besides structural protection, the Village is taking other measures in case an evacuation order comes into place. “We’ve been in touch with School District 73 and they are providing us with buses and drivers if we need them and we’ve already received calls from people that would need a ride out of Chase if we were on order,” said Chief Administrative Officer Joni Heinrich.

Jeanne Usen is a resident of Chase and explains that, even though she is on edge and concerned about the situation, she understands emergency crews are doing their best. “They go every day in conditions that we have no idea of what it’s like and it’s because of them that we are this safe,” she said.

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Chief Lauzon explained crews are doing everything they can to mitigate the impacts of the fire, but it is all weather dependant and winds can shift at any time. “We can replace buildings and vehicles, we can’t replace people. Safety is our number 1 concern for everybody and we just hope we can get through this storm.”

If residents of Chase are evacuated, they’ll be expected to register with Emergency Support Services at McArthur Island in Kamloops.