Photo: BC Wildfire Service
The Shetland Creek wildfire.
UPDATE: 6:49 p.m.
BC Wildfire Service crews were stationed along the Highway 1 corridor north of Spences Bridge Monday, working to burn off fuel between the highway and the edge of the Shetland Creek wildfire to try and avoid further eastward growth.
Morgan Blois, BCWS fire information officer, said Sunday night growth was “significant” along the aggressive 19,941-hectare wildfire, and crews are concerned about the wildfire jumping the highway and the Thompson River.
Blois said crews have been working along Highway 1 over Sunday night, and all day Monday.
“They are doing some small scale hand ignitions along Highway 1 to burn off any existing fuel between the perimeter’s edge and Highway 1, which has been going well,” Blois said.
“Definitely watching to make sure we're doing what we can to prevent spotting or jumping across the highway at this time. Crews are just stationed throughout that whole highway closure area, and putting out hotspots as they can.”
Blois said the fire hasn’t spotted over the river at all, and one small spot next to Highway 1 was extinguished Sunday night.
On Monday, conditions over the fire were hot and dry, with about 20 kilometre per hour winds and gusts up to 40 kilometres per hour. Blois said fire behaviour has been relatively stable throughout the day, but BCWS is expecting things to pick up as the evening progresses.
There were some visibility issues Monday morning, but helicopters have been able to work over the fire providing bucketing support to crews as well as doing reconnaissance flights.
Along with working at the east flank of the fire, crews have been stationed near Spences Bridge, working to build guard at the south fire flank where growth was observed overnight.
About 136 firefighters have been working throughout the day on the Shetland Creek blaze, along with dozens of structure protection specialists and personnel. Ground crews were being supported by 12 helicopters, heavy equipment, structure protection trailers, water tenders and engines.
In Monday afternoon wildfire update posted to Facebook, the Village of Cache Creek said there was “little change to talk about, which is great news.”
“The fire has held on the north line at Hat Creek Road for three consecutive days, which is great news for our community. This steady containment is a positive sign of progress,” the village said.
The Village of Ashcroft said Monday it continues to be in contact with BCWS and Emergency Management B.C., and will continue to monitor the wildfire situation. In a Facebook post, the village said it has set up a registration line for residents to let them know if they will need transportation assistance if a future evacuation order is required.
Several evacuation orders and alerts remain in effect in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Cook's Ferry and Spences Bridge areas.
UPDATE: 11:59 a.m.
The BC Wildfire Service says a "very aggressive" wildfire burning south of Ashcroft is now estimated to cover 19,941 hectares, while the Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued expanded evacuation orders in the area.
The regional district placed nine more addressed properties under evacuation order on Monday, and the District of Logan Lake ordered a small portion of Highland Valley Copper property evacuated, as well. Evacuation orders are now in place for a total of 97 TNRD properties.
"If you are in the described area, you must leave immediately," the TNRD said.
There are more than 200 properties in the regional district under evacuation alert, including all properties in Spences Bridge, properties between Ashcroft and Cache Creek, Hat Creek north and TNRD properties southeast of the Village of Ashcroft.
A map of the areas under evacuation alert and order can be found on the TNRD website.
Other evacuation orders and alerts issued by local First Nations and municipalities remain in place.
BCWS said fire crews are preparing for another day of challenging weather on the nearly 200-square-kilometre Shetland Creek wildfire. The forecast continues to call for hot and dry conditions along with some wind, which will result in aggressive burning conditions and increased fire behaviour.
Morgan Blois, BCWS fire information officer, said personnel observed the wildfire spotting from “ridge to ridge” on Sunday night.
“It was very visible and very aggressive. So we were seeing Rank 4 and Rank 5 for sure in there. So quite large flames, a massive increase in smoke as well,” she said.
Blois said on Monday, BCWS’ main focus will be on the south flank of the wildfire, right above Spences Bridge.
On Sunday, the fire pushed south, spotting over Murray Creek Forest Service Road. Blois said the blaze isn’t currently posing an imminent threat to the community of Spences Bridge, but crews will be active in the area Monday to build guard and try to secure the south flank.
“[The fire] isn't moving at this point towards Spences Bridge, it’s kind of going straight south — which is probably parallel to the community. So hasn't increased closer necessarily, but activity has picked up,” she said.
Blois said the other priority for crews on Monday will be at the east fire flank, an area near North and South Venables Valley Road.
BCWS said night operations continued over Sunday night, with crews engaged in structure protection in Venables Valley and along Oregon Jack Road.
Ground crews were staged along Highway 1 to do some small-scale hand ignitions to remove unburned fuel between the fire’s edge and the highway, with the operation set to continue Monday if conditions are favourable.
Crews are continuing to secure guard parallel to Oregon Jack Road.
Structure protection personnel are also working in the southern part of Hat Creek Valley.
Ranchers in the Upper Hat Creek area under evacuation alert have been making arrangements to move their cattle to safer pastures if the need arises.
Highway 1 remains closed near Venables Valley Road due to the wildfire. Blois said BCWS is in communication with the provincial ministry of transportation about the highway closure, and encouraged motorists to continue to check DriveBC for any updates.
She said fire personnel are along the highway working, so for their safety the highway will remain closed for now.
“It is a priority to get that corridor open when possible, as long as it’s safe for the public and responders,” Blois said.
On Monday, there are 136 firefighters responding to the Shetland Creek wildfire, along with by dozens of structure protection specialists and personnel.
Structure protection trailers, engines and water tenders have also been deployed.
There are 26 pieces of heavy equipment working at Shetland Creek wildfire, and ground crews are being supported by 12 helicopters.
The TNRD said Friday fewer than 10 structures in Venables Valley have confirmed to have been destroyed. Staff have been evaluating and assessing the numbers of structures destroyed or damaged on Sunday, saying more information will be shared in the coming days.
The TNRD will be holding an information session for evacuees of the Shetland Creek wildfire on Monday evening.
Photo: Thompson-Nicola Regional District
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued an expanded evacuation order Monday morning due to the Shetland Creek wildfire.
ORIGINAL: 6:33 a.m.
The Shetland Creek wildfire is now an estimated 172 square kilometres in size.
Hotter and drier conditions resulted in aggressive burning conditions Sunday, with increased fire behaviour.
The BC Wildfire Service says the wind was predominantly south and southwesterly and was blowing at 10-15 km/h with gusts up to 30 km/h yesterday while temperatures remained in the 30s.
“Medium range spotting was observed as a result of a combination of higher wind speed and fuels remaining dry and susceptible to ignition,” said BCWS.
Aggressive fire behavior was observed yesterday on the eastern flank, between North and South Venables Road. Due to concerns over access and egress routes being compromised, firefighting personnel working in the Venables Valley area were pulling back to safety zones.
The Shetland Creek wildfire was listed at 17,266 hectares in size as of 10:25 p.m. Sunday.
Last night operations continued with crews undertaking structure protection in the Venables Valley and along Oregon Jack Road. Ground personnel were also staged along Highway 1 to do small scale hand ignitions to remove fuel between the fire edge and the highway.
A helicopter was also being used overnight for reconnaissance and infrared scanning.
On Sunday, the fire spotted south over the Murray Creek FSR and was burning further south in the valley. However, BCWS said it did not pose an imminent threat to the community of Spences Bridge.
Highway 1 remains closed between Spences Bridge to west of Cache Creek. Motorists should use other routes. Truckers are reminded that there is no commercial access to Highway 8.
Several evacuation orders and alerts remain in effect in the Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Cook's Ferry and Spences Bridge areas.
