131 structures destroyed by wildfires in B.C.'s Shuswap region, officials say

Approximately 131 structures were completely destroyed and another 37 were partially damaged by a wildfire that swept through B.C.'s Shuswap region, residents learned Friday.

At an afternoon news conference, officials from the Columbia Shuswap Regional District provided the first assessment of the damage caused by the out-of-control Bush Creek East wildfire.

But the numbers may change as crews have not been able to complete a full survey of the damage because of dangerous conditions in some areas and ongoing firefighting efforts, according to Derek Sutherland, protective services leader at the regional district.

Officials also confirmed that no lives have been lost to the fire, but urged residents to stay out of evacuation zones, citing hazards ranging from unstable trees and downed power lines to dangerous toxins released by burning materials.

"Our main intention is to get you home safely as soon as we can," B.C. Wildfire Service information officer Mike McCulley said.

"There's a massive effort that needs to be made for us to firm up an area."

McCulley confirmed that all provincial wildland firefighters have returned to their posts in the North Shuswap after they were forced to pull out Wednesday because of safety concerns, including a protest at an RCMP blockade.

He said the fire has not really grown over the last three days and is currently still estimated to cover 410 square kilometres. Cooler conditions and shorter days have helped the firefighting effort, but McCulley noted that temperatures are expected to rise over the weekend.

Some of the area affected by the Bush Creek East fire lies within the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, where another 11 structures have previously been confirmed as damaged to some extent.

Anyone placed under an evacuation order should leave the area immediately.

Evacuation centres have been set up throughout the province to assist anyone evacuating from a community under threat from a wildfire.

To find the centre closest to you, visit theEmergencyInfoBCwebsite.

Evacuees are encouraged to register withEmergency Support Services online, whether or not they access services at an evacuation centre.

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If you've been affected by the B.C. wildfires and want to share your story, emailcbcnewsvancouver@cbc.ca.

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