Image credit: CSRD

By Aaron Schulze

Bush Creek East Wildfire

Building moratorium lifted in fire-damaged Shuswap areas but new hazards linger: CSRD

Oct 24, 2023 | 9:48 AM

SCOTCH CREEK, B.C. — Residents who need to rebuild their homes in areas of the Shuswap impacted by the 2023 wildfire season may begin the process.

In a news release issued Tuesday (Oct. 24) morning, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) board of directors announced it’s lifting a temporary building moratorium in the south Adams Lake and Shuswap Lake areas.

The CSRD employed BGC Engineering in September 2023 to carry out geotechnical assessments of areas impacted by the Bush Creek East wildfire. An initial report has since been completed and indicates there are some new hazards that may affect the building permit process, including the possible requirement for additional property-specific geotechnical assessments.

Residents who want to build any structures on their property are advised to contact CSRD building staff early in their planning process.

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The BGC Engineering report primarily focused on risk to private property parcels within the CSRD boundaries. Infrastructure and buildings outside of the CSRD, including those belonging to Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw and Adams Lake Indian Band, provincial parks or the Thompson-Nicola Regional District were not specifically assessed.

The CSRD says B.C.’s Ministry of Forests is continuing to conduct a geotechnical assessment of the entire area affected by the Bush Creek East Wildfire and any additional information provided by the province would be incorporated into the district’s development decision-making process.