The fire in Miller Estates. (Image Credit: Merritt Fire Rescue Department)

By Victor Kaisar

Grassfires

Firefighters in Merritt, Kamloops respond to weekend blazes

Mar 10, 2025 | 1:04 PM

MERRITT — Merritt Fire Rescue (MFRD) crews made quick work of the first grass fire of the season on Saturday (March 8).

In a post on Facebook, firefighters say they were called to a small blaze that was burning downslope of houses in Miller Estates, outside of Merritt city limits.

“The first grass fire of the season…burned 0.37 hectares in the TNRD Fire Service Area,” Merritt Fire Rescue said. “The fire was efficiently managed by MFRD crews, with valuable assistance from neighbours prior to our arrival.”

Firefighters in Merritt are asking people to be cautious with springlike weather here, as they note conditions are already conducive to fire starts.

While the BC Wildfire Service was not called out to this particular blaze, they were at another fire in the Lower Nicola area that was also discovered on Saturday. This spot-sized fire in the Jesse Creek area is listed as being under control.

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Wildfire season in British Columbia officially runs between April 1 and March 31 of the next year, meaning these fires will count towards the 2024 fire season.

According to the BC Wildfire Service, there have been 1,693 wildfires since April of last year, 1,665 of which have been extinguished. They note that just over 1.08-million hectares has burned, making 2024 the fourth worst fire season on record.

Of the 28 active wildfires currently active on the BC Wildfire Service’s dashboard, 27 are under control. The only one that isn’t – in the Steven Creek-area near Princeton – is currently being held.

Cooney Bay Fire

Elsewhere, Kamloops Fire Rescue (KFR) was also called to the Cooney Bay area around 5:00 p.m. Sunday (March 9).

“The fire was about 100 feet by 50 feet in size,” KFR Life Safety Educator Capt. Jeff Pont told CFJC Today. “Due to the windy condition, they called out a couple more trucks as a precaution.

“Crews used saws and equipment to thin out the vegetation and they then used water to put of the fire.”

It’s not the first time that firefighters have been called out to Cooney Bay this year, and Pont is urging people to be smart when hanging around in that part of Kamloops. He also said fires are not allowed at Cooney Bay as its located within city limits.

“If you’re caught you’ll be fined $500,” Pont said. “Our goal is still to educate but if education fails then we’ll have to use economic pressure to get people to stop having fire out there.”

Like his Merritt counterparts, Pont is also urging caution during this spell of sometimes warmer weather.

“As we’re getting these higher temperatures and early season winds, its really important to pay attention to not having fires in the city, and if you’re having fires outside, to make sure they’re out,” Pont said.

“Because things can still happen and it often does at this time of year.”