Wildfire Update (23 08 23)
A message from Executive Director Michael Shapcott, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023
A dangerous and volatile wildfire continues to threaten Sorrento, including the Sorrento Centre and our farm, five days after two large wildfires in the North Shuswap merged into an out-of-control inferno that quickly burned its way into the South Shuswap and is on the western and southern flanks of Sorrento.
The satellite image from NASA / US Forest Service shows flames and hot spots (red boxes) of the fire closest to the Sorrento Centre and our farm as seen on Wednesday. The purple areas are our farm and the main campus. Satellite imaging of fire / thermal issues have “limited accuracy”, according to the website that provides the information, but do some indication of the scale of the wildfire.
Rain on Monday and Tuesday, along with cooler temperatures, helped clear some smoke and slowed the earlier rapid spread of the fire. BC Wildfire reported on Wednesday: “No significant growth anywhere on the fire in the last 48 hours.”
The evacuation order for much of Sorrento remains in place. We are unable to visit either our 24-acre main campus or our 7-acre farm to assess the impact of the wildfire. There is no way to predict when it might be safe to return.
BC Wildfire reports that firefighters are working on the eastern and western flanks of the hills directly south of our Centre. There are also structure protection crews at work, as well as fire suppression along the TransCanada Highway. The highway is closed.
Environment Canada forecasts a 30% chance of rain tonight, with the possibility of a thunderstorm. Winds are expected to gust strongly up to 50k. The original wildfire was caused by lightning. There was a lightning strike on Sunday that triggered a wildfire in the South Shuswap (now under control), and another lightning strike Tuesday that caused a wildfire in the North Shuswap (also under control).
All our almost 200 guests for BC Swing Camp were safely evacuated by Friday afternoon. A big thank you to our campers. As the fire in the North Shuswap began to spread heavy smoke by mid-week, swing camp organizers worked with our staff team to create a plan to ensure that the music could continue under safe conditions. However, by Friday there was an evacuation alert. Our team and the camp team were able to ensure all the campers left safely.
After safely evacuating, the campers have organized a fundraising campaign among the musicians that has already raised almost $2,000 that will help our Centre to respond to evacuation needs as well as looking forward to the future.
Our staff safely evacuated Friday. Most staff are in Salmon Arm, Enderby and Vernon. A few who live outside the evacuation zone are sheltering safely at home. Everyone is safe for now.
The Sorrento Centre is convening a virtual meeting on Thursday of agencies and organizations in our area to share information, identify needs and discuss ways we can support each other in the current crisis and into the future. We are collaborating with emergency services.
The situation remains extremely risky and dynamic. We will continue to offer daily updates. It is a challenging time for our beloved Centre. We are grateful that our guests, staff and neighbours are safe for now. We are thankful for BC Wildfire firefighters doing their best. We are thankful for emergency services staff and many volunteers supporting evacuees. The messages of love and support from our friends near and far lift our hearts. All prayers ascending to the divine are a comfort to all of us.
While it is hard, in the midst of uncertainty and devastation, to think of gratitude, a dear friend of our Centre, Herb O’Driscoll, wrote these words to ED Michael Shapcott earlier this week: “I want you to know that whatever happens, we will give thanks. If the centre burns, we will give thanks for all its years of service to God knows how many lives. If it lives, we will give thanks for that too, and hopefully consider why it was given back to us.”
