Lachlan Labere

Chase RCMP located what appeared to be a non-emergency vehicle driving in an evacuated area of Sorrento on Aug. 21, 2023. (File photo)

Shuswap man claiming to be firefighter handed 90-day driving prohibition

Officers located driver in evacuated area of Sorrento

Chase RCMP located what appeared to be a non-emergency vehicle driving in an evacuated area of Sorrento on Aug. 21, 2023. (File photo)
Salmon Arm’s Auldin Maxwell sits with the five Guinness World Records certificates he received for his record-breaking Jenga block towers. (Kelly Murray photo)

Towering achievement: Salmon Arm teen earns spot in 2024 Guinness World Records

Auldin Maxwell’s knack for stacking Jenga blocks has earned him five world records

Salmon Arm’s Auldin Maxwell sits with the five Guinness World Records certificates he received for his record-breaking Jenga block towers. (Kelly Murray photo)
Scotch Creek/Lee Creek firefighter Darren Reynolds looks over the remains of his North Shuswap home that was destroyed Friday, Aug. 18, by the Bush Creek East wildfire. (CSRD image)

North Shuswap firefighter unwavering after losing home, fire hall to wildfire

‘This is my neighbourhood’: CSRD firefighter Darren Reynolds recounts harrowing afternoon

Scotch Creek/Lee Creek firefighter Darren Reynolds looks over the remains of his North Shuswap home that was destroyed Friday, Aug. 18, by the Bush Creek East wildfire. (CSRD image)
This map shows the approximate perimeter of the Bush Creek East wildfire as of Thursday morning, Aug. 24, 2023. (BC Wildfire Service image)

North Shuswap to receive supplies, collaboration with wildfire crews still a goal

‘We’re still here to work with BCWS and CSRD – the goal is to put out the damned fire’

This map shows the approximate perimeter of the Bush Creek East wildfire as of Thursday morning, Aug. 24, 2023. (BC Wildfire Service image)
BC Wildfire message posted to Twitter (X), Wednesday night. (Twitter)

RCMP condemn self-declared convoy that wanted past Shuswap wildfire blockade

Police say group challenged officers stationed at roadblock

BC Wildfire message posted to Twitter (X), Wednesday night. (Twitter)
A structure in the Scotch Creek area of the Shuswap destroyed by the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire. (Submitted photo)

Shuswap firefighter claims people bringing food, water to crews are being blocked

‘At the end of the day we’re not going anywhere, we’re here to fight…’

A structure in the Scotch Creek area of the Shuswap destroyed by the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire. (Submitted photo)
Vehicles cross the bridge at Scotch Creek while it was still open to traffic. (Karen-lee Marshall/Facebook image)

Firefighting equipment stolen including ATVs in North Shuswap

Sprinklers on Scotch Creek bridge removed three times

Vehicles cross the bridge at Scotch Creek while it was still open to traffic. (Karen-lee Marshall/Facebook image)
Blue Rodeo and frontman Jim Cuddy close out the first and only day this year’s Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Wildfires force cancellation of Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival

Friday night ends at Main Stage with performance by Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo and frontman Jim Cuddy close out the first and only day this year’s Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Electoral Area F director Jay Simpson took this photo in Scotch Creek Saturday, Aug. 19, the morning after a wildfire went through the community. (Jay Simpson photo)

North Shuswap directer surveying damage in Scotch Creek after wildfire

‘…just on this brief pass through, that 50 to 60 per cent of Scotch Creek is okay or minimal damage’

Electoral Area F director Jay Simpson took this photo in Scotch Creek Saturday, Aug. 19, the morning after a wildfire went through the community. (Jay Simpson photo)
Derek Sutherland, director of the Shuswap Emergency Program’s (SEP) Emergency Operations Centre  remarked Friday night, Aug. 18, that “it’s been absolutely the most devastating day of wildfire in the Shuswap’s history.” (CSRD images)

Firehall, other structures believed lost to wildfire in North Shuswap

‘It’s been absolutely the most devastating day of wildfire in the Shuswap’s history.’

Derek Sutherland, director of the Shuswap Emergency Program’s (SEP) Emergency Operations Centre  remarked Friday night, Aug. 18, that “it’s been absolutely the most devastating day of wildfire in the Shuswap’s history.” (CSRD images)
A 10-kilometre planned ignition could be seen burning in the hills behind Scotch Creek on Thursday night, Aug. 17, 2023. (Sasha Ellenna Pellow//Facebook photo)

Planned ignition helps reduce southern movement of Shuswap wildfire

‘The good news is that no houses were lost and no lives were lost.’

A 10-kilometre planned ignition could be seen burning in the hills behind Scotch Creek on Thursday night, Aug. 17, 2023. (Sasha Ellenna Pellow//Facebook photo)
An evacuation order was issued for several properties along Meadow Creek Road in Celista Thursday night, Aug. 17, 2023. (CSRD image)

Evacuation order issued for several North Shuswap properties

Evacuation alert expanded for Celista

An evacuation order was issued for several properties along Meadow Creek Road in Celista Thursday night, Aug. 17, 2023. (CSRD image)
The BC Wildfire Service conducted a large-scale aerial ignition southeast of the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire in the North Shuswap Thursday afternoon, Aug. 17, 2023. (BC Wildfire Service image)

Large-scale planned ignition conducted to protect North Shuswap communities

BC Wildfire Service conducted ignition in advance of incoming cold front

The BC Wildfire Service conducted a large-scale aerial ignition southeast of the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire in the North Shuswap Thursday afternoon, Aug. 17, 2023. (BC Wildfire Service image)
An evacuation alert issued by the CSRD for Lee Creek was extended to include Scotch Creek on Wednesday, Aug.

North Shuswap evacuation alert extended to include Scotch Creek

Alert prompted by 10,000-hectare Lower East Adams Lake wildfire

An evacuation alert issued by the CSRD for Lee Creek was extended to include Scotch Creek on Wednesday, Aug.
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District issued an evacuation alert for Lee Creek Wednesday, Aug. 16, and urged vacationers in the North Shuswap to head home. (CSRD photo)

Wildfire prompts evacuation alert, North Shuswap vacationers urged to leave

Evacuation alert issued in response to Lower East Adams Lake wildfire

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District issued an evacuation alert for Lee Creek Wednesday, Aug. 16, and urged vacationers in the North Shuswap to head home. (CSRD photo)
The Lower East Adams Lake wildfire prompted an evacuation alert for the Lee Creek area of the North Shuswap on Wednesday morning, Aug. 16, 2023. (CSRD image)

Evacuation alert issued for 807 Lee Creek properties in the North Shuswap

Alert prompted by Lower East Adams Lake wildfire

The Lower East Adams Lake wildfire prompted an evacuation alert for the Lee Creek area of the North Shuswap on Wednesday morning, Aug. 16, 2023. (CSRD image)
The BC Wildfire Service said Tuesday, Aug. 15, that the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire was expected to move in a north-northeasterly direction. (BC Wildfire Service image)

Winds expected to pick and increase fire activity at Adams Lake blaze

Forecast for next few days has blaze spreading northward

The BC Wildfire Service said Tuesday, Aug. 15, that the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire was expected to move in a north-northeasterly direction. (BC Wildfire Service image)
An aerial image of a section of Dorian Bay with the burned line from the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire. (CSRD photo)

200 firefighters from Costa Rica and Brazil helping with Shuswap wildfires

Higher temperatures, winds expected to incrase fire behaviour at Adams Lake

An aerial image of a section of Dorian Bay with the burned line from the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire. (CSRD photo)
A pair of conchuela stink bugs crawl over an amaranth plant at the front of Kathy Crosbie’s Salmon Arm home. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Meet the little stinker sucking the life out of B.C. Interior farms and gardens

Conchuela stink bugs causing a real stink for fruit and vegetable growers

A pair of conchuela stink bugs crawl over an amaranth plant at the front of Kathy Crosbie’s Salmon Arm home. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Little change was seen between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 8 and 9, at the site of the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire in the Shuswap. (BC Wildfire Service image)

Rainfall helps hold growth of Lower East Adams Lake wildfire in the Shuswap

Wildfire service to conduct planned ignitions on fire’s south flank

Little change was seen between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 8 and 9, at the site of the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire in the Shuswap. (BC Wildfire Service image)