Adams Lake, B.C. wildfire prompts evacuations near Kamloops

An out-of-control wildfire northeast of Kamloops, B.C., has prompted the evacuation of nearly 100 lakeside and residential properties and put another nearby 75 on alert.

The Lower East Adams Lake Fire has been burning next to Adams Lake since July 12, and it has recently grown to 2,527 hectares in size — threatening properties, businesses, and a generally popular summer destination for those living in the area.

(Courtesy: Columbia Shuswap Regional District.)

According to the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, the evacuation order was issued on Wednesday but later expanded as imminent danger from the fire grew.

Tsutswecw Provincial Park has been issued an evacuation alert as well.

The BC Wildfire Service cites difficult terrain and a drastic wind shift that caught crews off guard as reasons why a formerly docile wildfire started aggressively moving toward homes near Adams Lake. It adds that crews had mostly used air support to keep the fire “held” before things took a turn for the worse.

The Adams Lake Fire has grown to over 2,500 hectares in size and is burning roughly 21 kilometres north of Chase, B.C. (Courtesy: BC Wildfire Service)

BC Wildfire Service spokesperson Forrest Tower says forecasters couldn’t predict a one-eighty turn in the wind that saw the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire start moving toward properties — even reaching peoples’ backyards.

“Very intense and scary night for people that were evacuated, everyone had to go across this ferry,” he said.

“It’s one way in, one way out primarily across that ferry — so definitely a very stressful situation.”

Although Tower says a silver lining has been present throughout the situation so far, as he says no structures have been lost so far.

Meanwhile, Adams Lake cable ferry operator Marinus Goossen says the area has dealt with evacuations in the past, and lessons learned over the last few years paid off when the order came down to get people away from danger.

“There’s a lot of unhappy people, but in any crisis situation there’s going to be unhappy people because people don’t like to be displaced, and I don’t blame them.”

For now, the regional district says the cable service is only transporting wildfire crews and first responders.

Related articles:

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• Wind gusting up to 70 km/h poses challenges in B.C. wildfire fight: fire service

• ‘Humans are the centre of the emergency’: B.C. Wildfire Service says more hot, dry conditions on the way

Adams Lake Store owner Connie Berkley says the fire, which is burning on either side of the lower end of the lake, has had an extremely negative effect on her business.

“I’ve got the biggest weekend of the year. I have two months to make my money [in] July and August,” she said. “I have a store full of stock for my biggest weekend that starts tomorrow, and the roads are closed.”

“The campgrounds are closed, the lake is closed … what am I going to do with all this stock?”

The regional district adds that Mounties and private security are working to keep the area “evacuated and secure.”

With files from The Canadian Press