Quick action by locals with a tractor stopped a grassfire in the Beaton Road area near Cherry Creek west of Kamloops in it's tracks.
Image Credit: SOURCE/Wikimedia
July 20, 2013 - 3:28 PM
KAMLOOPS - A grass fire in the Cherry Creek area just west of Kamloops was almost completely contained by the time forestry crews arrived this afternoon.
Fire Information Officer Michaela Swan says the 1.5 hectare fire near Beaton Rd. broke out around 12:30 p.m. and was out in about an hour.
“Given the time of day and not very much wind it did grow fairly quickly,” says Swan. “Really this is a sign the Kamloops area is moving into a high danger rating and those green grasses from June are now dry.”
Swan says they suspect the fire, which was close to a residential area, was human caused.
Wildfire management responded with 7 fire fighters and air tankers. The air tankers weren’t needed and returned to base with full loads.
“Local residents actually made quick work and we’re able to use some of their own equipment to establish a guard around the fire,” according to Swan.
They used a tractor to dig up the grass and create a firebreak.
The fire danger rating is high in the Kamloops area.
If you see a wildfire, you’re asked to call Wildfire Management at *5555 on your mobile phone.
To contact the reporter for this story, email halexander@infotelnews.ca or call (250) 491-0331.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013