Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adel Ahmed

BUSH CREEK EAST WILDFIRE

Squilax First Nation announce 31 homes were lost due to Bush Creek East wildfire

Aug 25, 2023 | 5:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Chief of Skwlax te Secwepemculecw Jamie Tomma and his brothers spoke to the media Friday (August 25) explaining how much of an effect the Bush Creek East Wildfire has on them and their community.

“ It sounded just like a warzone, looked like a warzone,” said Chief Jamie Tomma. “It wasn’t a couple of embers. It was a shower. It was showering embers and we can hear the community explode.”

31 homes were lost in the Little Shuswap Indian Band as a result. Tomma was among those that lost his home. He says telling band members the status on their home was the hardest part.

“Going down and seeing the people waiting and waiting. And then when they get the news you know. There was no nice way to do that.”

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Jamie’s older brother Robert Tomma says his home was not apart of those that were destroyed. Although people have been telling him how lucky he is, he considers himself unlucky.

“I don’t consider myself lucky at all when I know my band hasn’t got a home to go to. I don’t wanna go back home,” he said. “It would be too lonely without my people there.”

Rocky Tomma also described the final moments of the wildfire getting close to his home and seeing the water bombers in the sky before fleeing to safety.

“I built a structure in my yard and I was sitting on top of it and took pictures of them going by and waving at them good luck and everything. But even they couldn’t stop what was going to happen that day.”

Chief Jamie Tomma says the estimated cost to rebuild the homes lost range from $30 to $50 million. Through it all he repeatedly expressed his gratitude to first responders.

“I’d like to once again reiterate and extend my gratitude and appreciation to all those brave young men and women that put their lives on the line for communities and families that weren’t theirs but they did that. I’m so proud of you people.”