(Image Credit: Kent Simmonds/CFJC Today)
By Victor Kaisar
Wildfire

UPDATE: Landscape fire along Shuswap Road being held at 20ha in size

Jul 6, 2026 | 3:08 PM

TK’EMLUPS TE SECWÉPEMC — UPDATE (6:15 p.m.): The BC Wildfire Service says a landscape fire that broke out on the Tkemlúps te Secwépemc reserve Monday (July 6) afternoon is being held at an estimated 20 hectares in size.

That means that the fire is expected to remain within its current perimeter, based on current fuel and weather conditions.

The updated size is a sizable increase from the previous estimates of four and then six hectares, but the fire does not appear to have any seriously threatened any structures. CFJC Today has reached out to Kamloops Fire Rescue for comment but a response was not immediately received.

Firefighters from the City of Kamloops, Tkemlúps te Secwépemc and the BC Wildfire Service were all on scene after the fire broke out in the area of Shuswap Road and Harper Ranch-Pinantan Road, around 2:30 p.m. Monday (July 6).


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The fire appears to have burned up the hillside behind some houses on the Harper Ranch-Pinantan Road, which is located on the north bank of the South Thompson, across from the Orchards Walk development.

Ground crews working on the fire along Shuswap Road as a Conair airtanker (right of picture) drops retardant above the plateau.
Ground crews working on the fire along Shuswap Road as a Conair airtanker (right of picture) drops retardant above the plateau. (Image Credit: Kent Simmonds/CFJC Today)

(Image Credit: Kent Simmonds/CFJC Today)

A specific cause isn’t known yet, but the BC Wildfire Service has classified the fire as human-caused. There were plumes of thick, black smoke and flames visible at times, but air tankers were dropping retardant on the hillside Monday afternoon, to reduce the fire’s intensity so ground crews could work.

“For the safety of our community, we ask everyone to avoid the area and stay clear of emergency response operations,” a statement from Tkemlúps te Secwépemc said. “Please do not stop to watch or attempt to access the area, as this can interfere with firefighters and emergency personnel.”

The City of Kamloops also reiterated that message and asked people to avoid the area so crews had space to work.

– With files from James Peters/CFJC Today

by Victor Kaisar

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