Spring run-off causes washouts, search for missing Cache Creek fire chief continues

KAMLOOPS (NEWS 1130) – Environment Canada has posted severe thunderstorm watches for a large section of the central and southern Interior, an area that is already seeing spring flooding.

An evacuation order has been issued for Fintry Provincial Park on the northwest side of Okanagan Lake, while the River Forecast Centre says a flood watch is up for Mission Creek through East Kelowna and the Salmon River in Falkland, near Vernon.

“There is still more rain in the forecast through the day, so that could push things up even higher. We’re really at the monitoring stage of things right now,” explains Dave Campbell with the centre. “Once the wetness of the rain has worked its way through, we’ll settle back down a little bit into the weekend and get back into regular snowmelt. I think it’s really the impact of this rain that’s causing problems.”

Mark Weston with BC Parks says it’s not known when Fintry will reopen.

“It’s touch-and-go at this point, we’re monitoring the creek along with the regional district emergency services and really just going from there.”

He says, luckily, reservations for the park don’t open until later this month.

Those areas were hit Thursday night by overnight thunderstorms, as was Kamloops, where the deluge caused several already-swollen creeks to burst their banks.

Noble Creek and Cherry Creek near Kamloops have flooded and resident Kimberley Redman says high water from Cherry Creek has washed out a bridge, culverts and part of a street.

The DriveBC website, which reports on provincial highway conditions, shows Highway 99 east of Pemberton has been cut by an avalanche at Duffey Lake, while a rock slide severed Highway 16 just east of the boundary with Alberta.

The website says both the routes are closed until further notice, while a washout has also closed Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge. There is no detour available for that closure.

Search is on for Cache Creek fire chief who may have been swept away in swollen creek

The RCMP says the fire chief of Cache Creek in British Columbia’s Interior is missing and may have been swept away in a swollen creek early today.

Searchers, including the Kamloops Search and Rescue team, a helicopter, a swift-water rescue team, a canine unit and dozens of volunteers are looking for Clayton Cassidy.

The RCMP say the 59-year-old man went missing early today while checking water levels for Cache Creek and he was last seen near the water.

Police say Cassidy’s vehicle was also found near the creek.

Cassidy was given a Medal of Good Citizenship by the government last year for his efforts helping Cache Creek residents during a devastating flood in May 2015.

NEWS 1130’s Bruce Claggett speaks with the mayor of Cache Creek about missing fire chief: