Bush Creek East wildfire causing issues; other Adams Complex wildfires calmer after long weekend

KAMLOOPS — A pair of wildfires within the Adams Complex have calmed down while one continues to give wildfire crews headaches.

Following the B.C. Day long weekend, the Ross Moore Lake wildfire is measured at around 6,245 hectares, the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire is at 5,981 hectares and the Bush Creek East wildfire is at 2,998 hectares.

Andy Oldroyd, information officer for the Adams Complex, says the Bush Creek East wildfire – despite being the smallest among the Adams Complex trio – caused crews challenges by moving south in the early portion of the long weekend and moving north along the western edge of Adams Lake in the later part.

“We had structural protection equipment put into the cabins that sit along the lake and that has been successful in preventing those properties from being impacted. We’ve seen fire almost up to the back of some of those cabins,” Oldroyd told CFJC Today.”

The TNRD issued an additional evacuation order and alert over the weekend due to the Bush Creek East wildfire.

Elsewhere, Oldroyd says Kamloops residents may have noticed some additional smoking coming south from the Ross Moore Lake wildfire, although it was due to planned ignitions to prevent the fire from spreading.

“Both planned ignitions went very well and we’re feeling very comfortable with the level of security on those guard lines, particularly to the north and south,” Oldroyd says. “Over the weekend, it did bridge some of the guard on the eastern side of that fire and we’ve had crews in there trying to construct new guard lines.”

For the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire, Oldroyd says it’s been giving crews the least concern. He says it has calmed down since flaring up in the middle of the week. The focus is to continue building a guard line behind properties along Rawson Road.

A shift in weather fortune Tuesday (Aug. 8) and Wednesday, with higher humidities and lower temperatures forecast, is also expected to help crews build guard lines around the Ross Moore Lake and Lower East Adams Lake wildfires.

“That is the scene that will invariably stop those fires from spreading and protect communities,” Oldroyd adds. “While we will see a little bit of rain over the coming days – and that does assist us in dampening down the fire a little bit – there’s certainly potential that these fires will continue to burn after that once the dryness comes back and the temperature increases.”

Additionally, Oldroyd doesn’t expect Kamloops residents to get much wildfire smoke relief Tuesday and Wednesday due to a more stable atmosphere and lack of wind.

The BC Wildfire Service’s goal is to the contain the Adams Complex wildfires, although Oldroyd says it will be difficult to remove the safety risk for communities without significant rainfall or snowfall.