B.C. wildfires: Fire still growing in Shuswap area, firefighting gear being stolen

A huge problem for BC Wildfire Service crews in the North Shuswap area is that their gear is being stolen.

The massive 410-square-kilometre fire burning around Shuswap Lake has officials concerned as fire behaviour is causing the blaze to still spread but not at the levels seen in the past two days.

“We haven’t seen the amount of growth or anything close to what we saw (over the past few days),” Forrest Tower said, a BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) official.

“(However) We still do have a quite active fire on all perimeters where it is still getting new growth.”

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District said the 114 firefighters in the area have been “working tirelessly” in the battle against the Bush Creek East wildfire, which has forced the evacuation of more than 3,000 properties.

The fire was previously named the Lower East Adams Lake fire complex before it merged with an adjacent fire.

The fire reading, which is mapped at 41,041 hectares, is not exactly accurate, according to BC Wildfire Service staff, as it has had to depend on thermal imaging due to smoke. Staff said the reading may be inaccurate and evacuees should not rely on the perimeter to determine structural impacts.

Wind conditions and cooler temperatures are favourable for crews on Sunday, but officials warn extremely dry conditions are still leading to more fire growth but fire activity has been less active.

The fire is also burning in extremely steep terrain, posing challenges for ground crews to access.