KAMLOOPS — UPDATED- MONDAY, MAY 13- 4:50 am
A wildfire east of the City is still considered out of control, but isn’t threatening any structures, at least as of late last night.
Wildfire B.C. officials estimated the blaze last night at about 19 hectares.
The fire, believed to be human-caused, broke out yesterday afternoon. It’s been titled the Buse Creek wildfire. It’s in the area between Hook Road and the exit to Highway 97 off the Trans Canada at Monte Creek.
Air tankers hit the fire yesterday afternoon, along with crews on the ground. Helicopters were used to bucket water from the South Thompson River to attack the blaze as well.
The Pritchard Volunteer Fire Department attended for part of the day.
You can expect some closures or delays as crews work the blaze.
UPDATED 4:25 p.m:
A blaze burning east of Kamloops has now grown to 6 hectares in size, according to the B.C Wildfire Service.
Airtankers were on site, and now helicopters have flown in to assist crews.
At this time, the service says no structures are threatened, and people should expect road closures in the area.
UPDATED 3:40 p.m:
The BC Wildfire Service is battling an out of control blaze in the east part of Kamloops this afternoon.
Photos began surfacing online earlier today of what appeared to be multiple fires burning just past the Dallas industrial area across the South Thompson River.
Fire Information Officer Hannah Swift says there is a 4 hectare, out of control fire burning just south of Hook Road.
“We have air tankers and crews currently responding. As this incident develops, the number of personnel on site is continually changing,” She explains, “Currently we have the Pritchard volunteer fire department responding and on scene, and RCMP are also on site doing traffic control at this time.
The cause is still under investigation but Swift says given the fact that there have not been recent lightning strikes, is it suspected to be human caused.
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It appears several fires have popped up in the Kamloops area this afternoon ( May 12).
Nearby residents tell CFJC Today it looks like roughly 4 separate blazes have started across the South Thompson River from Rivershore Estates, east of the Dallas industrial area.
CFJC Today has reached out to the BC Wildfire Service, which is not able to provide much information at the moment, however they have stated on social media that crews and aircraft are responding to the fire.
More information is expected shortly.
Image Credit: Kellie Holloway
Image Credit: Kellie Holloway
