(Image Credit: Kent Simmonds/CFJC Today)
Interface Fire

Firefighters responding to Campbell Creek-area interface fire

Jul 27, 2026 | 1:49 PM

KAMLOOPS — (UPDATE 4:00 p.m.): The BC Wildfire Service sent ground and aerial crews to respond to a three hectare interface fire in the Campbell Creek-area, not far from the BC Wildlife Park.


Planes and helicopters were dispatched shortly after 1:00 p.m. as a plume of smoke could be seen rising from as far away as the Valleyview-area.

BC Wildfire Service information officer Cali Nessman said the airtankers were tasked with dropping retardant along the predetermined lines in the vicinity of the fire.

“And then once those air tankers completed their objectives, they were grounded, allowing our helicopters to resume their fire suppression,” Nessman said. “We had both a bucketing helicopter and a tanking helicopter. The bucketing helicopter, as you can understand, has a bucket that drops water and the tanking helicopter has a tank attached to the belly and it is dropping water from there.”


(Image Credit: Kent Simmonds/CFJC Today)

Kamloops Fire Rescue crews were also called to respond to this human-caused fire along with 13 BC Wildfire Service ground crews.

“The crews working on the ground were conducting hose lay and extinguishing hot spots in the fire perimeter as well as general containment,” Nessman said. “Crews observed rank 1 and 2 fire behaviour, so that just means a smoldering ground fire with pickets of open flame and a slow rate of spread.”

The fire forced the BC Wildlife Park to close its doors early in the interest of safety and the well-being of the animals, staff and visitors.

This is a developing story and more information will be provided once it’s available.