Evacuations ordered as B.C. wildfires grow

The latest: 

• More than 250 fires are burning in B.C. with officials warning of a “challenging 72 hours” ahead.
• Heat warnings remain in place for much of the province’s Interior and north, with temperatures above 30 C.
• An evacuation order is in place for the Venables Valley, an agricultural region west of Kamloops, affecting more than 120 people. 
• Evacuation orders and alerts have also been issued for some properties along Slocan Lake in the Central Kootenay region and an emergency operations centre has been activated in the Shuswap.
• Find more information about evacuation orders and wildfires in your region.

B.C. fire officials are gearing up for what they warn could be a “very challenging 72 hours,” with lightning in the forecast and damage already in the B.C. Interior that one witness described as “Armageddon.”

Various communities in the province’s Interior are also under evacuation orders or alerts due to a steadily growing number of out-of-control fires.

Shetland Creek wildfire

The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) currently lists the Shetland Creek wildfire, which originated around 7.5 kilometres north of Spences Bridge, as the sole wildfire of note in the province. 

The BCWS considers wildfires of note as those that are “highly visible or pose a potential threat to public safety.”

In response, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) has issued an evacuation order for about 85 properties in Venables Valley, an agricultural area about 70 kilometres west of Kamloops. The district says the order now covers portions of Hat Creek Road, and affects more than 120 people. 

The district also expanded an evacuation alert for the area Thursday evening, which now includes around 170 addressed properties from Spences Bridge to the border of the Ashcroft Ranch. 

WATCH | Resident captures fast-growing fire:

Mark Greenberg was one of more than 100 residents of Venables Valley, in the B.C. Interior, who had to watch as a wildfire burned toward his property.

Meanwhile, the neighbouring Cook’s Ferry Indian Band has steadily extended its own evacuation orders and alerts over the past few days. 

As of Thursday evening, people living on Reserves 5, 5A, 6, 8A, 18, 19 and 22 have been ordered to evacuate. 

Evacuation alerts for the band cover Reserves 1, 3, 4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11A, 16, 17 and 20.

On Thursday afternoon, the band’s fire chief Stephen Sherwood told CBC’s Radio West that the fire had overcome the band’s land used for cattle grazing and one of the Indigenous protected cultural grounds in the area. 

He also said the band lost a structure, but it has not been inhabited for some time.

Also affected is Saranagati Village, a Hare Krishna community of about 30 families that also includes a school and temple.

First discovered on July 12, the Shetland Creek fire is suspected to have been caused by lightning. It’s currently burning at 50 square kilometres after merging with the Teit Creek wildfire Wednesday. 

“The flames were hundreds of feet tall,” said Venables Valley resident Mark Greenberg, who is part of a community-based fire team.

Greenberg says a FireSmart meeting was underway at the community hall Wednesday night when he saw huge flames coming over the mountain toward the hall.

LISTEN | Evacuee describes ‘Armageddon’-style flames:

Mark Greenberg and other residents of the Venables Valley were told to leave last night due to fire risk from the Shetland Creek Fire.

“I probably left the valley just around midnight, but within an hour the [valley] was just Armageddon,” he said.

On Thursday morning, BCWS director of wildfire operations Cliff Chapman said an incident management team of about 55 people were heading to the area near Venables Valley to assist with fire suppression efforts and structure protection.

Aylwin Creek fire 

In the Central Kootenay Regional District, 11 properties have been ordered evacuated with another 91 on evacuation alert on the east side of Slocan Lake due to the Aylwin Creek wildfire. 

Dan Seguin, emergency management coordinator for Regional District of Central Kootenay, told CBC News Thursday that there has been a reception centre established for evacuees at the Royal Canadian Legion in the village of Slocan. 

He also said the Bannock Point Recreation site is now included in the evacuation alert, and urged visitors and other residents in the district to “use their best judgment,” pay attention to alerts and steer clear of firefighting areas. 

“I encourage individuals to have a look and make sure they’re being as safe as possible at a time that conditions can change really quite rapidly,” Seguin said. 

Calcite Creek fire

In the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), an evacuation alert has been issued for the Eastgate, Psayten and Placer areas along B.C. Highway 3 due to the Calcite Creek fire. 

Erick Thompson, communications coordinator for RDOS, said the alert covers 170 properties, which are a mix of permanent residences and vacation homes.

The 0.25 square kilometre blaze is “exhibiting aggressive fire behaviour and growth,” according to the BCWS. It says the fire was discovered Thursday and suspected to have been caused by lightning. 

Over 90 new fires

Overall, more than 250 wildfires are active across the province as of Thursday evening, over 90 of which started in the last 24 hours. Over half are considered out of control.

Lightning is the primary source of new fires, according to Chapman.

He said the northern half of B.C. is expected to get “significant lightning” Thursday, potentially followed by more lightning across the province Friday.

“I do believe that we are on the precipice of a very challenging 72 hours,” Chapman said.

WATCH | Fire officials warn of difficult days ahead: 

Cliff Chapman, director of wildfire operations with the B.C Wildfire Service, says the province is in for a ‘very challenging’ 72 hours as the northern half of the province is expected to get “significant lightning” Thursday, followed by lightning across the province Friday.

Heat warnings also remain in effect across the province’s Interior and north. Temperatures will be above 30 C during the day and in the mid-to high teens overnight, further fuelling the dry conditions.

“We’re going to see temperatures in the mid-30s, even cresting into 40 C in the southern Interior over the next few days,” he said.

Elsewhere, the Shuswap Emergency Program says it has activated an emergency operations centre in response to multiple new fire starts in the region, though it says no properties are currently at risk.