Fire guard added to protect homes near Adams Lake fire

BC Wildfire crews are building a new fire guard to help protect North Shuswap communities should the Lower East Adams Lake Wildfire continue to grow in that direction.

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District said the guard is being built in the general area of the edge of the southern flank of the fire. It will start at the top of the mountain and follow the fire’s edge, where possible, down to Rawson Road.

The guard will be located as close as possible to the orange “southern edge” line on the map below. This southern perimeter below is still accurate, with no uniform downslope movement overnight.

(CSRD image)

“Residents need to keep in mind that a fire guard line is one of the tools used to help prevent fire movement. There are no guarantees that fire will not jump past these lines, especially with wind activity,” a news release from the CSRD stated.

As of Saturday, Aug. 5, the fire north of Chase, was estimated at 4,823 hectares, a big jump from Friday’s estimate of 2,527 hectares. The lightning-caused fire is still classified as out of control.

Meantime, the Wildfire Service has released a video of its response to the wind-driven run the Lower East Adams Lake fire went on Wednesday, Aug. 2 (see the video below).

Fortunately, no structures were damaged.