Some residents in a region devastated by a massive wildfire in British Columbia’s Southern Interior will be touring the burned-out site today.
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District says in a statement that “some areas of the community have changed dramatically” after the Bush Creek East wildfire swept through, destroying or damaging as many as 200 homes.
It says the district is conducting the tour to give a clear picture of the damage and hazards in that area to help residents prepare for their return.
The media will get a similar tour a few hours after residents have looked over their homes.
After weeks of evacuation orders and alerts because of the wildfire, the district has outlined a plan for a staged re-entry process starting today.
Derek Sutherland, the director of the district’s emergency operations centre, says the fire zone is still dangerous because of the significant damage and no one should enter burned buildings or forests, while water in the area should not be consumed.