Wildfire Activity Update
BC Wildfire Service Update Submitted by Aydan Coray Adams Complex Information Officer
September 15, 2023 5:54PM
Resources: 231 ground personnel (165 Bush Creek East, 66 Rossmoore Lake), 28 pieces of heavy equipment (26 Bush Creek East, 2 Rossmoore Lake), 35 support staff, 10 helicopters, seven structure protection personnel (Bush Creek East)
On the Bush Creek East wildfire (K21633), activity has increased within the fire perimeter on the east side of Squilax Mountain, visible to Sorrento and the North Shuswap areas. There are ground personnel and heavy equipment working to reinforce existing containment lines in the area, with support from two heavy helicopters bucketing from Shuswap Lake. Through the afternoon, skimmer air tankers worked out of Little Shuswap Lake and Shuswap Lake to dampen fire behaviour and provide support to ground crews.
This activity is a result of the fire finding areas of unburnt fuel during a period of above seasonal conditions and increasing winds with the passage of a cold front. These conditions have continued drying forest fuels and increasing the amount of fuel available for burning, as is the case across the province. Fire danger rating is currently High across the Shuswap and the Kamloops Fire Centre and will remain as such for the coming days.
Overnight, seven structure protection personnel have been assigned to continue patrolling in the North Shuswap, actioning hot spots in and around the community.
In terms of forecasted conditions, a cold front will be moving through the region on Saturday, bringing increased winds and reduced relative humidity values. Winds are expected from the southwest, with gusts up to 40km/hr in the late afternoon and evening. Wind direction is anticipated to change to northerly or northwesterly early Sunday, before returning to southwest flows late in the day. Monday evening, a second cold front will pass over the region, bringing sustained winds, followed by potentially cooler temperatures and isolated showers by Tuesday.
On the Rossmoore Lake wildfire (K22024) south of Kamloops, the most active portion of the fire is in the southwest corner along Frogmoore Creek. Two helicopters are supporting ground crews today while they reinforce containment lines in this area. Patrol for remaining hotspots has been completed on much of the western boundary of the fire, and gear from the southeastern flank is being demobilized and redeployed to other areas.
