Bowers Lake fire, Aug. 30. (Image Credit: BC Wildfire Service)

By James Peters

Wildfire Starts

Lightning sparks small fires near Merritt, 100 Mile House

Sep 1, 2025 | 11:29 AM

KAMLOOPS — Lightning that has moved through the BC Interior over the past few days has sparked several new fires, with the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) noting clusters near Merritt and 100 Mile House.

As of Monday (Sept. 1), BCWS reported a trio of small fires in close proximity north of Merritt. Each of those fires is burning west of Highway 97C and is less than 1 hectare in size.

West of Logan Lake, the Witches Brook fire is burning south of Highway 97C. It is also spot size as of Monday morning.

To the north, three fires are burning roughly halfway between 100 Mile House and Clearwater. All three were discovered on Friday (Aug. 29).

The largest of the three is the Bowers Lake fire at 15 hectares. BCWS crews are using heavy equipment to establish a guard and aerial resources to attack the fire from the air.

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The Cougar Lake fire is measured at 14 hectares. Twenty-four firefighters are working that blaze, joined by helicopters.

Cougar Lake fire, Aug. 30. (Image Credit: BC Wildfire Service)

Slightly southeast of those is the Windy Creek fire, measured at 8 hectares Monday morning. BCWS says smoke from that fire will be visible to surrounding communities, including the south end of Canim Lake.

With a heat warning back in place for the Kamloops area, residents are asked to keep an eye out for further lightning-caused fires to show themselves in the coming days.