(UPDATE: Aug.21 @ 8 pm ) – The Hunakwa Lake wildfire has not experienced any significant growth in the past few weeks and continues to be estimated at 3,601 hectares.
BC Wildfire Service explains that although the fire has not grown, fuels in the area have dried out in recent days.
“With the possibility of thunderstorms in the afternoon forecasted gusting winds may result in an increase in fire activity.”
However, due to limited fire activity, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District has rescinded the evacuation alert for Seymour Arm.
Seymour Arm - The Evacuation Alert issued by the CSRD for Seymour Arm has been RESCINDED effective August 20. See the CSRD website: https://t.co/wL3Wvb4ViQ https://t.co/jJ3Bf9wWUp pic.twitter.com/xF3ypqylWu
— Columbia Shuswap Regional District (@ColShuRegDist) August 20, 2021
There are 21 firefighters assigned to this fire today.
Crews will continue to patrol the northwest flank and extinguish any hot spots they come across.
BCWS explains that a thermal scan will be completed in the coming days to locate hotspots that may have popped up in areas that have experienced regeneration of vegetation in the past.
(UPDATE: Aug. 19 @ 1:32 pm) - The Hunakwa Lake wildfire has seen minimal growth over the past few days, as a more accurate mapping has put the fire at 3,601 hectares.
The 10 foot backline on the west flank has now been completed, and crews have been working on targeting hotspots along the guard in the northwest corner.
BCWS has a goal of extending the backline out to 100 feet today; other crews will be working to extinguish hotspots that are burning deep.
There are currently 12 firefighters assigned to the fire, with 10 helicopters being shared between the Shuswap Complex.
The evacuation order issued by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District has been downgraded to an evacuation alert for the community of Seymour Arm, which includes:
All residences within the community of Seymour Arm that are in the neighbourhood of Tranquility Bay.
All properties east of Seymour Arm Bay Road and Seymour River Road at Bughouse Bay and including Tipman Road and Bradley Road and the boat-in only properties.
Existing alerts for the area remain in place.
(UPDATE: Aug.16 @ 2:20 pm) – The Hunakwa Lake wildfire experienced a 245 hectare growth since last week’s update.
The fire is now estimated to be burning at 3,600 hectares.
On Sunday, BC Wildfire Service observed rank two and three behaviour in the western and eastern flanks of the fire.
However, the growth was limited over night.
There are 13 firefighters and 10 helicopters available throughout the Shuswap Complex.
BCWS explains that crews continue to mop up and patrol near the community of Seymour Arm.
“Crews are patrolling from Hunakwa Lake to the west guard to extinguish any hotspots. They are also working to extinguish hotspots identified by a thermal imaging scan in the north.”
Sprinklers and extinguishment operations will be ongoing today to further protect Seymour Arm.
Evacuation alerts, issued by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, remain in effect.
(UPDATE: Aug. 10 @ 11:00 am) – The Hunakwa Lake wildfire has been estimated at 3,355 hectares due to more accurate mapping.
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District has downgraded the evacuation order for Seymour Arm to an alert.
BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) reports low fire behaviour over the past few days.
“As a result, the crews are able to direct attack along the fire perimeter.”
There are 32 firefighters and nine pieces of heavy equipment assigned to this fire today.
Crews continue to work on the west and north side of the fire near Seymour Arm.
“Crews continue to work to secure the north side of the fire [...] with water-delivery hose systems,” BCWS explains.
Mop up and patrolling operations are ongoing in this area.
Machine and hand cut guards continue to be built in the southwest corner of the fire.
Progress has been made on the west and north sides which has resulted in structural protection no longer being required.
“Demobilization of structure protection systems on the east shore of Seymour Arm is expected to be completed today.”
(UPDATE: Aug. 6 @ 11:35 am) - The BC Wildfire Service's latest mapping of the Hunakwa Lake wildfire has it at 3,549 hectares in size.
Crews continue to work hard on the west and north side of the fire near the community of Seymour Arm, but the primary objective for crews has been to get containment on the south flank.
That's where the fire continues to burn towards the northeast tip of Shuswap Lake, which crews are trying to prevent.
"The east flank continues to be a challenge as it slowly burns north into inoperable terrain posing a risk to responders," explained a BCWS update.
Both evacuation alerts and orders are in place through the Columbia Shuswap Regional District for Seymour Arm.
A number of structural protection personnel are at the fire and are currently watching closely over 38 properties.
"Some properties are Fire Smart with own units which has freed up equipment for other properties," the BCWS added.
"Structural protection personnel have assessed the east shore of Seymour Arm properties and cabins and are continuing to maintain existing set ups."
The agency is mainly attacking the fire from the air due to the difficult-to-access terrain, as nine helicopters are currently assigned to the fire.
(UPDATE: Aug. 4 @ 11:20 am) – The Hunakwa Lake wildfire, located 9 kilometres southeast of Seymour Arm, is burning at an estimated 2,700 hectares.
Recent precipitation in the area has helped to calm fire activity.
BC Wildfire Service reports that the smoke from surrounding fires, such as Momich Lake, has made it difficult to track the fire’s perimeter.
Crews continue to establish structure protection and 38 properties have been identified and are now protected.
“Some properties are FireSmart with [their] own sprinklers which has freed up equipment for other properties,” affirms BCWS.
As the fire continues to burn south, BCWS explains that their main objective is making containment lines to prevent the fire from spreading to Shuswap Lake.
There are 22 firefighters and two helicopters working on site.
Crews are being supported by industry and heavy equipment to widen roads, construct containment lines and protect the community.
Visit the Columbia Shuswap Regional District for the latest updates on evacuation orders and alerts.
(UPDATE: July 19 @ 9 am): An evacuation order has been issued in Seymour Arm as the out-of-control Hunakwa Lake wildfire continues to burn.
Early this morning, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District ordered the evacuation of all homes in the Tranquillity Bay neighbourhood.
The order also applies to all properties east of Seymour Arm Bay Road and Seymour River Road at Bughouse Bay, including Tipman Road and Bradley Road and boat-in only properties.
CSRD said the order was necessary "due to an immediate danger to life safety."
Early this morning, CSRD said it completed a tactical evacuation of about 39 people affected by the fire.
"The CSRD firefighters have gone door-to-door to ensure people in the affected area have been notified," the district explained.
"All are safe."
The fire, which was caused by lightning, remains at 1,100 hectares.
In its latest update, BC Wildfire Service said: "There was growth on the fire overnight to the north along the ridge, away from communities."
(UPDATE: July 19 @ 9 am): The Hunakwa Lake wildfire is now at 1,100 hectares.
It remains out of control.
Seymour Arm remains on evacuation alert until further notice.
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) said the fire was showing a mix of Rank 2 and 3 behaviour.
That means the fire is mostly burning on the ground, with some fire candling (which is where a tree ignites and fire flares from bottom to top).
BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) is reporting slow fire growth, with the blaze primarily growing up the slope of the ridge away from the community.
CSRD explained on Sunday: "BCWS continues to work with other agencies and private industry on plans to widen existing roads and natural fire-break areas to create a fire guard.
"Heavy machinery is being moved into the area to create this fire break designed to help protect the community of Seymour Arm."
The fire is thought to have been caused by lightning.
(UPDATE: July 16 @ 1:30 pm): The Hunakwa Lake wildfire near the north arm of Shuswap Lake has grown significantly over the last two days.
It's now an estimated 1,250 hectares in size, up from the 230 hectares it was measured at on Wednesday.
At this time, the community of Seymour Arm remains on evacuation alert.
"The fire continues to grow primarily upslope into unpopulated areas, however, fire spread is slowly moving north, towards the community of Seymour Arm," explained the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.
"The BC Wildfire Service is working with other agencies and private industry on planning and placement of a machine-built fire guard to assist in the protection of the community of Seymour Arm."
At this time, the CSRD has sent three fire crews and three fire trucks to the area to assist with fire protection.
A structural protection unit has been deployed to the area as well.
(Original story: July 14 @ 2:05 pm): A wildfire burning around five kilometres east of Shuswap Lake's Seymour Arm has prompted an evacuation alert.
At this time, the Hunakwa Lake wildfire is estimated at 230 hectares in size.
The evacuation alert was issued as a “precautionary measure” by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District earlier this afternoon.
“Due to the remote nature of Seymour Arm, the Shuswap Emergency Program wishes to provide as much notice to residents and visitors as possible about the potential for evacuation,” said a bulletin from the Shuswap Emergency Program.
The alert is in effect for a number of properties on the north tip of Seymour Arm, but at this time the fire remains several kilometres away.
It’s currently burning on the southeast corner of Hunakwa Lake, but the BC Wildfire Service warns that personnel on site “are reporting aggressive fire behaviour.”
This wildfire sparked on July 9 and it’s believed to be caused by lightning.
NowMedia will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Thumbnail: Stock photo courtesy of the BC Wildfire Service.
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