(image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

WILDFIRE SEASON 2023

No reported growth on Bush Creek East wildfire in five days; North Shuswap residents prepare to return

Sep 5, 2023 | 4:17 PM

KAMLOOPS — “You will certainly see in time the recovery that is needed. It is going to be years in the making,” Columbia Shuswap Regional District Information Officer Tim Conrad told CFJC Today Tuesday.

With residents in the Shuswap preparing to head home Wednesday (Sept. 6), 18 days after fire swept through their communities, they are returning to a place they may not fully recognize.

“They are going to get that as soon as they turn onto the road and start to head down there. It is significantly different than what they have left behind and it’s going to be a shock for a lot of people,” said Conrad.

The regional district was able to announce the removal of evacuation orders for Wednesday on the advice of the BC Wildfire Service, who have been battling the 43,000-hectare Bush Creek East blaze.

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“The Bush Creek East wildfire, we haven’t seen growth on this fire in the last roughly five days. It is still estimated to be around 43,000 hectares in size. With that lack of growth we are also a decrease in fire activity and behavior across the fire, in all the areas where the fire is active,” said BCWS Fire Information Officer Aydan Coray.

Despite the return, the Bush Creek East wildfire is still considered out of control.

“Most of the activity that we are seeing right now that our crews are conducting mop up activities, which included identifying and extinguishing hot spots that may not be visible active fire but something like an ash pit that isn’t immediately identifiable to your eyes,” added Coray.

The process of rebuilding and moving forward is destined to be a long haul for residents whether they are returning to an untouched structure, a damaged home, or the burnt remains of what used to be.

“The first thing that people are going to find is getting through the insurance process is going to take quite a while,” said Conrad. “I’ve heard that sometimes that can be a one- to two-year process to get that finished up and we can move into rebuilding. And then you get into building permits and moving forward with that.”

With the memory of Lytton two years ago, and a noticeable lack of rebuilding, the regional district knows it will need support from all levels of government to help their resident build anew.

“Certainly, all of the levels of government need to look at that and see if we can efficiently get people back into their properties,” said Conrad.

Updated figures from the CSRD are painting a clearer picture of the devastation. The regional district confirms 176 properties have been lost with 50 additional homes damaged by the blaze.