Image Credit: BC Wildfire Service

By Victor Kaisar

WIldfires

UPDATE: Trio of small wildfires reported near Merritt

Aug 2, 2025 | 3:44 PM

MERRITT — The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) was responding to three small wildfires that sparked in the Merritt area Saturday (Aug 2) but only two are suspected to have been caused by lightning.

One lightning-caused fire was burning east of Davis Lake, between the Coquihalla Highway and Highway 5A. It grew to 0.3 hectares in size, but its currently listed as under control.

The other lightning-caused fire in the Fox Lake area between the Coquihalla and Nicola Lake has been extinguished. It was estimated to be 0.1 hectares in size.

A suspected human-caused fire near Quilchena Creek is also under control, according to the BC Wildfire Service. Located near Nicola Lake, it only grew to about 0.1 hectares in size.

Elsewhere, two fires also sparked on the north side of Kamloops lake Saturday afternoon. The first, located at Lower Carabine Creek near the Painted Bluffs Provincial Park, is under control at less than 0.1 hectares.

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The other fire located further west near Lower Sebiston Creek, and its currently burning out of control at less than 0.1 hectares in size.

The BC Wildfire Service says there have been over 48,000 lightning strikes since July 30, with significant activity in the Kamloops, Cariboo and Prince George regions. The Prince George Fire Centre was home to more than 33,200 of those lightning strikes.

Environment Canada has been issuing on again, off again severe thunderstorm warnings in the Kamloops area, with several severe thunderstorm watches also in effect across the province.

“Thunderstorm activity continues across the Interior today and is expected to persist through the weekend,” a statement from the BC Wildfire Service said.

“While patchy rain and localized heavy downpours associated with thunderstorms may reduce the likelihood of ignition, areas where lightning occurs without accompanying rain remain at risk for new wildfire starts.”

BCWS said cooler temperatures and increased humidity this weekend will help moderate fire behaviour.

You can find the latest weather alerts from Environment Canada here, and the latest from the BC Wildfire Service here.