Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Dave Barry

Wildfire

UPDATE: Sparks Lake wildfire northwest of Kamloops at 180 hectares, out of control

Jun 28, 2021 | 6:50 PM

KAMLOOPS – UPDATE (6:30 am June 29)

With more record-breaking temperatures in store today, fire crews will be hard-pressed to fight new fires that have sprung up in the last 24 hours. The worse of these is the Sparks Lake fire, which broke out one kilometer north of Red Lake Monday afternoon. It’s classified as out of control this morning.

Wildfire B.C. told CFJC late last night the fire was estimated at 100 hectares, although it is listed as 180 hectares of the Wildfire B.C. dashboard this morning.

Tankers and skimmer planes are expected out again Tuesday morning.

At last report, there were no structures threatened.

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The fire is one of 9 burning in the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Another fire broke out Monday afternoon on Highway 97C at the Princeton cutoff on Hamilton Hill. It was reported as 0.3 hectares last night. It’s believed to be person-caused. Merritt Fire Department reacted initially to the fire before wildfire crews arrived.

UPDATE (9:00 p.m.): The B.C. Wildfire Service now estimates the size of the fire at 100 hectares.

UPDATE (7:30 p.m.): The B.C. Wildfire Service says its first size estimate for the Sparks Lake wildfire is 40 hectares.

Speaking to CFJC Today, Fire Information Officer Madison Smith says the blaze, which ignited Monday afternoon (June 28), is burning out of control near Red Lake.

Smith says the fire is burning in mature Jack pine and Lodgepole pine but is not threatening any structures at present.

There are 27 wildfire personnel responding to the fire, as well as heavy equipment and a number of air tankers and other aircraft.

Smith notes a cause has not been determined, but there has been no lightning in the area for quite some time.

EARLIER: The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) is dealing with a wildfire burning near Sparks Lake west of Kamloops.

Smoke was first spotted rising rising into the sky north of Kamloops Lake around 5 p.m. Monday. The smoke is clearly visible from the Savona and Tobiano areas.

Two BCWS jet bombers were seen attacking the wildfire with fire retardent while at least five smaller propeller water skimmers were seen headed from the Fulton Field in Kamloops in the direction of the fire.

The size of the wildfire or the cause of the fire hasn’t been determined.