By Greg Fry/Doug Collins

UPDATE: Evacuations due to grass fire rescinded; Shuswap Road reopened

Jul 12, 2018 | 12:19 PM

KAMLOOPS — Update: – Smoke continues to hang in the air above Shuswap Road on the Tk’emlups Reserve  after a large grass fire broke out Thursday afternoon.

Currently, the fire is burning away from populated areas, but could still cause problems for firefighters, who spent the night putting out hot spots and ensuring that areas along Shuswap Road were protected.

Today, crews are expected to work the north flank and prevent the fire from moving too far in that direction, which is in the general direction of Paul Lake.

28 personnel stayed on scene last night to fight the blaze, those numbers will be bolstered by more firefighters today along with aerial support.

The fire was estimated at 380 hectares late last night.

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The fire was human caused, and investigators are still looking at the area where the fire started.

Crews could be hampered by strong wind gusts today. A special weather statement has been issued that wind gusts up to 70 kilometers an hour could hit the area this afternoon.

Earlier- The Kamloops Fire Centre says 57 firefighting personnel and four pieces of heavy equipment are now fighting the grass fire near Shuswap Road.

Fire Information Officer Marla Catherall says 28 personnel will continue the fight overnight to help with containment ahead of tomorrow’s expected high winds and high temperatures.

The fire remains at 380 hectares in size. Still no word on the cause.

Update: Evacuations issued due to the fire near Shuswap Road earlier today have been rescinded.

Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Councillor Nacoma George also confirmed to CFJC Today Shuswap Road has been reopened.

The fire, which broke out just before noon, has beeen remapped at 380 hectares in size.

No word yet on what caused it.

Update: The grass fire near the 800 block of Shuswap Road has grown to 200 hectares in size.

The City of Kamloops says 18 Kamloops Fire Rescue personnel are on site, along with 50 BC Wildfire personnel and air service, with more resources on route.

“As a precaution, a half dozen homes on Shuswap Road east of the Sage Meadows trailer park have been evacuated. A reception centre has been established for evacuees at the Sk’elep School of Excellence on the reserve,” reads a city news release.

Currently, no structures have been lost to the fire. No word yet on what caused it.

Update: The Kamloops Fire Centre says the fire has grown to 70 hectares in size and is exhibiting rank 3 fire behaviour.

The BC Wildfire Service describes rank 3 fire behaviour as a “moderately vigorous surface fire.”

Despite the size of the fire, no structures have been lost.

Still no word on what caused the blaze.

Update: The grass fire on Shuswap Road continues to grow in size.

Marla Catherall, fire information officer with the Kamloops Fire Centre, says it’s now 60 hectares.

RAW VIDEO – 3:20pm TANKER DROP ON THE WALL OF FLAMES NEAREST SUN RIVERS:

RAW VIDEO – WALL OF FLAMES MOVING TOWARDS SUN RIVERS:

RAW VIDEO – 2:40pm:

“Right now the number one priority is protecting homes so we’re working at the bottom of the fire.”

She says the fire hasn’t destroyed any structures. No word yet on what caused it.

No word yet on evacuations though Sun Rivers says it has sent out a message telling residents to be on alert.

Update: The grass fire in the Shuswap Road area has grown in size.

RAW COMPILATION OF TANKER DROPS:

The BC Wildfire Service says it has grown to 20 hectares though no structures are immediately threatened right now.

RAW VIDEO:

Forty-nine firefighters, airtankers, one helicopter and fire investigators are currently responding to the blaze.

Winds are pushing smoke into Kamloops and the fire is visible from Highway 1.

The fire broke out just before noon today. No word yet on what caused it.

Earlier: Kamloops Fire Rescue is responding to a grass fire on the Tk’emlups Reserve.

Kamloops RCMP say it has closed Shuswap Road from Lafarge west to the Yellowhead Highway until further notice.

No traffic except emergency vehicles are allowed in the area.

Police say no structures have been damaged or injuries reported.

The BC Wildfire Service has deployed fire crews and air support to help with fire suppression efforts.

No word yet on what caused the fire.