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.”
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation order Wednesday evening, impacting about 76 properties in the Venables Valley.
The Shetland Creek wildfire was 285 hectares as of Wednesday, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS), and burning approximately 7.5 km north of Spences Bridge.
“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.
“I probably left the valley just around midnight, but within an hour the [valley] was just armageddon,” he said.
The Cook’s Ferry Indian Band, north of Spences Bridge, also issued an updated evacuation order Wednesday for several reserves due to the Shetland fire and the Teit Creek fire, which merged into one fire, according to officials. The Shetland fire is now a wildfire of note, a classification for blazes that are especially visible or pose a threat to public safety.
The fires were discovered last Friday and Saturday, and the service says lightning is the suspected cause of both blazes.
They’re among the more than 200 wildfires active across the province as of late Thursday morning, with about 47 per cent burning out of control.
“This wildfire has proven to be extremely volatile and everyone in the area should leave immediately if they have not already,” Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma said at a news conference Thursday.
The band first issued an order Tuesday, which applied to Reserve 6 due to imminent danger from the fires.
A new order, which came into effect at 8 p.m. PT Wednesday, covers Reserves 5, 6, 8A, 19 Firstly and 22.
Cook’s Ferry Chief Christine Walkem said on social media that several families have been impacted by the fire, though the extent of the damage was unclear.
“Our thoughts and prayers for the loss of our Murray Creek, Twaal Valley, Venables Valley and the loss to come,” she wrote.
Cliff Chapman, director of wildfire operations with BCWS, said increasing winds accelerated fire growth amid unseasonably warm temperatures.
‘Very challenging’ 72 hours ahead
An incident management team of about 55 people are heading to the area near Venables Valley to assist with fire suppression efforts and structure protection.
“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.
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, followed by lightning across the province Friday.
“I do believe that we are on the precipice of a very challenging 72 hours,” Chapman said.