Image Credit: B.C. Wildfire Service

By James Peters

North Saskum Lake Fire

New fire sparks east of Little Fort, grows to 58 ha Tuesday

Aug 15, 2023 | 1:46 PM

LITTLE FORT, B.C. — B.C. Wildfire Service crews are keeping an eye on a new wildfire that was first spotted Monday (Aug. 14) in the North Thompson Valley.

The North Saskum Lake fire is burning east of Little Fort and south of Vavenby.

Fire Information Officer Kyla Preto says the fire is believed to have been caused by lightning and is burning in remote terrain.

“We’re taking a modified response approach to this fire,” Preto told CFJC Today. “That means we’ll use a combination of techniques with the goal to minimize costs and damage while maximizing ecological benefits from the fire. This is usually used when there is no immediate threat to values, which, in this case, there is not. No communities or anything threatened at this time.”

As of Tuesday, the fire was measured at 58 hectares.

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Preto says residents in the North Thompson corridor will not see an aerial attack on the fire, thanks to its location.

“The trouble with this one is it’s burning in very steep and challenging terrain, so it’s not safe for our crews or any equipment to directly respond to the fire right now,” she noted.

Preto adds this fire is a good example of how lightning strikes can spark fires that smoulder underground for several days before spreading to surface fuels.