Shuswap issues building permit moratorium due to Bush Creek East wildfire damage
Posted September 17, 2023 8:57 am.
A temporary moratorium has been issued for building permits in the the Columbia Shuswap Regional District due to wildfire damage.
The district announced Friday that extensive changes to the area’s natural landscape caused by the Bush Creek East wildfire has made it unsafe to issue new building permits or conduct building inspections in fire-affected areas.
“Throughout this emergency, public safety has been the number one priority. It is critical we continue to ensure the safety of residents from the potential hazards that come into play for these burned areas,” said Gerald Christie, manager of development services for the district.
“Once we have more information about the level of risk, we will be able to remove properties in low-risk areas from the moratorium.”
Related link: Shuswap-area wildfire ‘one of the most aggressive’ in B.C. firefighting history: officials
The results of the geotechnical assessment required to lift the moratorium aren’t expected for up to three months, the district said, but some preliminary findings will be available in about four to six weeks.
Property owners may be able to get an exemption from the temporary moratorium if they can provide the district with a report from either a certified professional engineer or a geoscientist saying their land can be used safely.
The district says residents are able to start taking steps toward rebuilding. They will be required to clean up their properties, submit danger tree assessments, and receive confirmation with the district before they can move on to the building permit stage.
The Bush Creek East Fire around Shuswap Lake has been called “one of the most aggressive, extreme fire behaviours” in modern human firefighting history in B.C. by BC Wildfire Service Information Officer Forrest Tower.
It remains out of control and was most recently estimated to be approximately 433 square kilometres.
The district says due to its immense size and scale, there’s a significantly increased risk of landslides, flooding, rockfall and erosion across the region.
The decision to put the moratorium in place came out of a closed portion of one of the district’s regular board meetings that occurred on Sept. 14.
With files from Cole Schisler and Emma Crawford.
