Image Credit: Contributed / Diane Morris
B.C. Wildfire

Small wildfires pop up near Savona

May 30, 2019 | 3:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — UPDATE: The B.C. Wildfire Service now lists four small wildfires in the Savona area, and one east of Kamloops near Monte Creek.

All of the fires are very small in size, and are thought to have been caused by lightning strikes.

Image Credit: B.C. Wildfire Service

EARLIER: B.C. Wildfire Service crews are en route to a new wildfire start west of Kamloops.

The fire was spotted Thursday on the north side of Kamloops Lake, across from Savona.

Fire Information Officer Marla Catherall says the fire is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike. Catherall says three personnel are en route to the fire site, along with aerial resources.

Catherall notes smoke may be visible across the lake for travellers on the Trans Canada Highway.

Image Credit: B.C. Wildfire Service

The weather is mostly hot and dry, but Catherall notes that doesn’t mean the back country is safe from lightning.

“We have seen a bit of lightning and some of that has been dry, within the Kamloops Fire Centre,” said Catherall. “We want to encourage the public to continue to call in if they do see anything — *5555 on their cellphones.”

Catherall notes much of the Kamloops Fire Centre is rated at a ‘moderate’ fire danger right now, with some pockets of ‘high’.

However, Catherall says there are also ‘extreme’ conditions around the communities of Kamloops and Clearwater.