Image Credit: B.C. Wildfire Service

By James Peters

New Wildfire

Crews battle 6-ha wildfire just south of Kamloops Friday

Jul 21, 2023 | 2:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — B.C. Wildfire Service crews are responding to a new wildfire just outside of Kamloops city limits.

Fire Information Officer Taylor Wallace says the Scuitto Creek wildfire was discovered Friday morning (July 21) about 12 kilometres southeast of the city, between Knutsford and Barnhartvale.

Wallace says it is measured at 6 hectares and even though it is a moderately vigorous surface fire, crews are trying to ensure it doesn’t grow any larger.

“At this time, no structures are threatened,” Wallace told CFJC Today. “We do have one initial attack crew that is responding to this one and air tankers have been actioning this incident for the majority of the afternoon. We’ve got one helicopter that’s there to support as well.”

Week in Review

Week in Review: Week of Oct. 28

1h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Sometimes you have to abandon your principles and yield to your natural instinct

Nov 03, 2024

Two and Out

PETERS: Conservatism used to be about lower taxes and smaller government, not conspiracy theories and racism

Nov 01, 2024

Wallace says the Scuitto Lake fire is the largest of several that ignited in the Kamloops area since a lightning storm went through Thursday afternoon and evening.

“As a result, we’ve had a number of wildfires pop up that are suspected to be from that storm, and a number of those are around the Kamloops area.”

Wallace asks local residents to keep watch over the coming days for further holdover fires that may have been spurred by the storm. If they see a new plume of smoke, they are asked to report them to officials at 1 (800) 663-5555 or through the BC Wildfire smartphone app.