Wildfire, drought concerns persist over B.C. Day long weekend
CTV
Firefighting crews are constructing a fire guard Sunday to try to prevent any further movement of a blaze in the Shuswap region that has forced the evacuation of a lakefront community.
Firefighting crews are constructing a fire guard Sunday to try to prevent any further movement of a blaze in the Shuswap region that has forced the evacuation of a lakefront community.
The East Adams Lake fire is estimated at 4,823 hectares, but the BC Wildfire Service says it has been challenging to properly map its perimeter and chart the fire's growth due to extremely smoky conditions.
Jim Cooperman lives outside of the evacuation zone, but just kilometers away from where the fire is burning out of control. He can see the flames from his porch and wears a face mask every time he goes outside.
"It’s like a thick fog, but rather than being from moisture in the air it's from particles of smoke,” he said, describing the air quality.
The BCWS and the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District are both warning that the weather forecast brings with it the risk of the fire becoming more "erratic"
Part of that risk includes the possibility of the fire spreading to and threatening the community of Lee Creek, where Cooperman lives.
"Shuswap Emergency Program staff and BCWS will continue to watch this situation closely and ensure that Alerts and Orders are up-to-date and reflective of the current fire risk," an online update from the district says.
