Properties destroyed by wildfire near Clinton, B.C.

A wildfire burning northwest of Clinton, B.C., has damaged or destroyed buildings on about 20 properties, says a local official.

Kevin Skrepnek, director of emergency operations for the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD), said the damage happened last Friday and it ranges from melted siding on a structure to all buildings on a property being burned down.

“The number of structures [destroyed] is likely, you know, dozens. And in some cases, unfortunately those were houses,” he said.

Officials surveyed the properties soon after the Fiftynine Creek fire ripped through the area, he said, and then contacted the owners. News of the destruction was then shared more widely at a community meeting Thursday.

“This fire is still quite active. So it’s not to say that we won’t have more damage in the days and weeks ahead,” Skrepnek added.

The fire that spans more than 108 square kilometres has forced the evacuation of the area around Big Bar Lake, while the entire village of Clinton, with a population of several hundred, was placed on evacuation alert late Wednesday.

The B.C. Wildfire Service said crews fighting the Big Bar Complex fires, which include the French Bar Creek and Pear Lake wildfires, were being challenged by hot and dry conditions, and further growth and an increase in fire activity were expected on Thursday.

Mikhail Elsay, an information officer with the service, said crews were focused on trying to hold the Fiftynine Creek fire to just south of Big Bar Road.

“Our crew is currently engaged in a bit of a firefight there to try to keep the fire from travelling any further north,” he told the briefing. 

The fire had burned up to control lines on the fire’s northern flank, Elsay added. 

The wildfire service said conditions were particularly challenging near the fire’s southeast corner.

Crews were continuing to protect properties northwest of Big Bar Lake and along the Big Bar Road corridor, and helicopters were helping slow the spread of the fire.  

Family steps up to feed wildfire crews

As crews work to contain the fire, Nick Kosovic and his mother Maria, who operate the Stagecoach Cafe in Clinton, have been battling since Saturday to keep the firefighters’ bellies full.

“We have been working about 18 hours a day feeding wildfire fighters as they’ve been coming, gradually growing in number, and finally they’ve got their camp cook all set up so we are somewhat off the hook,” Nick told Carolina de Ryk on CBC’s Radio West.

Nick said he and his mother have been sleeping in shifts as they try to fuel fire crews for their intense days in the field.

“These men and women, they eat like horses, they are burning maybe 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 calories a day, so they’re not just normal meals,” he said.

“We’re talking a quarter of a lasagna each.”

Despite the long days, Maria said the work has been rewarding — and the whole community has stepped up to help.

“It has been an amazing situation where friends are calling me, ‘Do you need anything? I’m shopping in Kamloops, I’m shopping in Ashcroft,’ and they bring the groceries to us,” she said.

“They are doing this for the … firefighters we have here, the men and women working so hard for us. We highly appreciate it.”

While Nick was initially sleeping at the café because of the long days, he’s now there out of necessity after his home was placed under an evacuation order due to the fire.

Around 65 firefighters, 13 helicopters, 57 heavy equipment vehicles and 77 structure protection resources were fighting the fires as of Thursday.