Local Fires Raise Concerns as Province Declares State of Emergency
By Jo Anne Malpass
As fast-spreading wildfires force thousands out of their homes,
BC declared a province-wide state of emergency on August 8.
Image: Creative Commons License
As the Scoop went to press, there were 101 wildfires burning across BC with 46% out of control, 51 evacuation orders and 53 alerts and 1,752 firefighting personnel. Along Okanagan Lake, multiple properties were destroyed, one confirmed death, and people evacuated by the Bradley Creek FSR fire near Vernon – being held at 2,634.8 hectares, the Bald Range fire near Summerland – out of control at 15,590 hectares and Quilpituk Creek - out of control at 1,238.8 hectares.
In the first week of August, Columbia Shuswap Regional District Fire Departments responded to a brush fire in Falkland on August 1, a structure fire in Tappen on August 2, a car fire in Scotch Creek on August 3, a structure fire in Seymour Arm on August 3, a brush and railway fire in Malakwa on August 4 and a car fire in Eagle Bay on August 4.
On August 5, North Shuswap Fire Departments responded to several reports of brush fires in the Anglemont area, deemed suspicious. Residents and firefighters successfully extinguished the flames before they could spread. Chase RCMP spoke to several suspects that evening, but no arrests were made.
Two days later, three roadside fires were discovered near Scotch Creek and extinguished by passers-by and firefighters. CSRD reports four more were found later that day. RCMP and a CSRD fire investigator attended the scene and more RCMP and Natural Resource officers were brought in to help protect public safety. The RCMP investigation is ongoing, and fire departments have been patrolling the communities.
Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to 911. If you see a fire, call 911 or report a wildfire to the BC Wildfire Service at *5555.
If you have video evidence or relevant information about the suspicious fires on the North Shuswap, please call Chase RCMP Detachment at 250-679-3221 and quote file 2026-1769.
