Smoke from the blaze is visible from the end of Victoria Street West, Tuesday, June 26, 2017.
(KIM ANDERSON / iNFOnews.ca)
Republished June 27, 2017 - 2:48 PM
Original Publication Date June 26, 2017 - 8:00 PM
KAMLOOPS - Nearly 70 firefighters are battling a wildfire west of Kamloops this afternoon, June 27, that's grown more than 200 hectares since yesterday evening.
B.C. Wildfire information officer Max Birkner says the blaze is now 260 hectares, much larger than the 32 hectares it was yesterday evening, June 26.
Birkner says there are five skimmers, four water tenders and one helicopter working on the fire near Dew Drop Trail, along with 69 firefighters who are working to establish a fire guard and lay hose line. The fire is not threatening any structures.
Crews haven't been able to contain the fire yet and it could be difficult with wind gusts of 20 to 40 kilometres per hour expected this afternoon, along with warm temperatures.
"There’s no containment right now, the fire is still out of control," Birkner says. "The fire danger rating right around Kamloops is extreme."
Birkner says 20 firefighters are expected to remain on scene throughout the night to work on the blaze.
Fire information officer Justine Hunse said earlier that crews began a controlled burn in the area after a wildfire sparked around June 16. The fire is suspected to be human-caused.
There are high to extreme fire ratings across the Kamloops Fire Centre, and if people do want to have a campfire they should make sure they have enough water, equipment and people on hand to deal with it.
There are currently no road closures or traffic diversions in the area.
– With files from Ashley Legassic.
– This story was updated at 8:37 a.m. Tuesday, June 27, 2017 to include new information from B.C. Wildfire information officer Justine Hunse.
– This story was updated at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, 2017 to include new information from B.C. Wildfire information officer Max Birkner.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Ashley Legassic or call 250-319-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2017