White Rock Lake fire

The White Rock Lake fire was a wildfire in Thompson-Nicola Regional District, British Columbia. It began July 13, 2021 as one of the 2021 B.C. wildfires and resulted in the destruction of Monte Lake. It totalled 83,047 hectares and was classified as out of control.[2] Insured losses total an estimated $77 million Canadian, according to one agency, which in late September expected the number of claims to top 800, most of them related to residential property.[5]

White Rock Lake fire
LocationMonte Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates50°32′00″N 119°50′00″W
Statistics
Date(s)July 13, 2021-September 2021[1]
Burned area83,047 hectares
321 square miles
830 square kilometres
205,214 acres[2]
CauseLightning[3]
Land useResidential
Buildings destroyed29+ in Monte Lake, ~70 in Ewings Landing and Killiney,[4] 11 on Okanagan Indian Band land
Deaths0
Evacuated3000+

Start and spread

The White Rock Lake wildfire started during the 2021 Western North America heat wave.[6] It was caused by lightning[3] and first sighted July 13, 2021, when it was 10 hectares in size.[1] It was reported at 3:46 p.m. and response began 30 minutes later, according to the Forests ministry.[7]

By August 5 the fire covered 32,500 hectares between Kamloops and Vernon, and the hamlet of Monte Lake was evacuated. The fire resulted in the destruction of at least 28 residences and one business there.[6] By August 6 the fire reached 55,000 hectares and evacuation alerts were issued for the cities of Vernon and Armstrong, as well as the village of Chase.[8] By September 12 the fire covered 833 km2.[3]

"Thousands" were evacuated[3] and over 2,000 properties were under an evacuation order.[9] The fire damaged approximately 70 properties in the Ewings Landing and Killiney areas.[10] The Okanagan Indian Band also reported 10 homes and one business destroyed.[11]

On August 14 Monte Lake residents were permitted to return to the community.[6] Although fire officials had previously declared it under control,[12] in September they downgraded its status to "held" and said that it might continue to burn all winter:

“...smoking stumps and roots within the secured fire perimeter pose no risk of fire spread and will continue to burn into the winter. Although smoke will continue to be visible, there is no threat of further spread.”[13]

Criticism of response

Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone called for a public inquiry into the provincial response, charging policy "is what causes these fires to get out of control".[7] Kamloops This Week reported residents at the outset of the fire "claim they felt abandoned or say they were told to leave when trying to help".[14] Deputy Forests Minister Rick Manwaring responded that the fire received response immediately after it was initially spotted.[7] At another press conference, Mainwaring, asked about climate change, said that the BC Wildfire Service already allocates resources differently since the Chapman Report, issued in 2017. Many of its recommendations, he said, addressed changing conditions and climate change.[15]

See also

References
  1. Clow, Caitlin (12 August 2021). "Incident commander says catastrophic White Rock Lake wildfire will grow". Kamloops This Week. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  2. "BCWS". BC Wildfire Service Post Season Update. BC Wildfire Service. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  3. Jules Knox (September 12, 2021). "Severe drought conditions causing White Rock Lake fire to burn deep underground". Global News. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  4. Pete McIntyre (Aug 16, 2021). "New estimate: Update: About 70 structures damaged by White Rock Lake fire on Westside Road". Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  5. Nathan Howes (September 26, 2021). "Nearly $80 million in damages for B.C.'s White Rock Lake wildfire". The Weather Network. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  6. Kulkarni, Akshay. "Residents of B.C. community return to assess damage as wildfires continue across province". CBC News. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  7. Szeto, Winston. "Kamloops farmer says he holds B.C. government accountable for White Rock Lake wildfire losses". CBC News. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  8. Steacy, Lisa. "White Rock Lake fire: Over 1,000 ordered to evacuate, nearly 50,000 more on alert". News 1130. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  9. Thibault, Alissa (5 August 2021). "White Rock Lake wildfire responsible for half of B.C.'s evacuation orders". CTV News. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  10. Potenteau, Doyle. "White Rock Lake wildfire still out of control, now estimated at 81,139 hectares". Global News. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  11. Clow, Caitlin (17 August 2021). "Update: Hundreds of White Rock Lake wildfire evacuees can return home". Vernon Morning Star. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  12. Kathy Michaels (September 7, 2021). "White Rock Lake wildfire under control after nearly two months of wreaking havoc". Global News. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  13. Doyle Potenteau (September 9, 2021). "White Rock Lake wildfire could burn into winter, say officials". Global News. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  14. "Amid criticism, province will release details of response to White Rock Lake fire". Kamloops This Week. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  15. Wayne Moore (Aug 11, 2021). "More boots on the ground?: The resourcing of wildfires in B.C. is different than it was just a few years ago". Retrieved September 29, 2021.
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