The East Adams Lake wildfire was discovered July 12, 2023.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/BC Wildfire Service
August 03, 2023 - 8:58 AM
Residents were evacuated by ferry across Adams Lake Wednesday night after winds shifted and pushed a wildfire toward nearby homes.
The Lower East Adams Lake wildfire has been heading almost primarily north and uphill since it was discovered last month, but strong, unexpected winds pushed it the other direction, down toward homes in the Dorian Bay area on Aug. 2.
BC Wildfire Service information officer Forrest Tower said the northerly winds were not in the forecast for last night, which sent the blaze spotting in the direction of nearby homes. Strong winds and rolling debris spread the blaze downslope, reaching backyards in the area.
Tower said no structures have been lost as of the most recent update, around 4 a.m., Aug. 3.
The Thompson Nicola and Columbia Shuswap regional districts ordered around 100 properties to evacuate around 9 p.m., with more on alert. Properties within the Adams Lake Indian Band are also on evacuation alert.
The Thompson Nicola Regional District also put 75 properties on evacuation alert on the west side of the lake due to the same wildfire.
Tower said skimmers and helicopters are working to douse hot spots, while structure protection crews were on the scene overnight.
The wildfire service asks boaters to stay off Adams Lake entirely as aircraft use the water for firefighting.
The fire has also downed BC Hydro lines in the area, cutting power for 137 customers along the east side of the lake.
Tower said the wildfire service is expecting the blaze to move back upslope, but the situation is "extremely variable right now." He also said the quick movement southward left plenty of fuel to burn north of the Dorian Bay homes.
The wildfire was last estimated to be around 2,520 hectares in size, but that measurement doesn't account for last night's rapid growth.
Although the northerly wind quickly put nearby residents in danger, the same isn't true for another blaze on the the west side of Adams Lake.
The Bush Creek East wildfire grew yesterday, but there are few structures or homes in that area. Tower said the nearest infrastructure at risk in that area is the Adams Forest Service Road, which is an important access route for the area.
Further to the south, Tower said the wind shift did not affect the Rossmoore Lake wildfire, which is about 10 kilometres from Kamloops.
That fire has moved about two kilometres west in the past two days and remains two more kilometres from Lac Le Jeune.
Go here for emergency information from the Thompson Nicola Regional District.
Go here for emergency information from the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.
Go here for emergency information from Adams Lake Indian Band.
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