UPDATE: Valenzuela Lake fire near 100 Mile House being held

100 MILE HOUSE, B.C. — (UPDATE 9:30 a.m.): The BC Wildfire Service says the Valenzuela Lake wildfire in the south Cariboo is being held at 35 hectares.

EARLIER – The BC Wildfire Service is responding to a new wildfire start in the south Cariboo, approximately 40 kilometres southwest of 100 Mile House.

It notes the Valenzuela Lake wildfire is currently estimated to be 35 hectares in size, up from the previous estimate of 15 hectares. Just like the fires in the Fraser Canyon, the BC Wildfire Service said fire growth towards the east is due to strong winds, elevated temperatures and dry conditions.

“The fire is primarily a smouldering ground fire with some single tree candling, a significant decrease from the intermittent crown fire observed [Wednesday, July 8] afternoon,” a statement from the BC Wildfire Service said.