A wildfire burning west of Vernon on Okanagan Indian Band land, April 1, 2021.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Austin Tyler
Republished April 02, 2021 - 3:49 PM
Original Publication Date April 02, 2021 - 8:42 AM
Two new wildfires discovered yesterday in the Thompson Okanagan region are now being held by firefighters.
A fire burning east of Kamloops, in the Celewt Road area, is estimated to be 22 hectares in size. B.C. Wildfire Service fire information officer Nicole Bonnett said eight B.C. Wildfire firefighters attended to the blaze yesterday, April 1, with assistance from the Adams Lake Fire Department.
Firefighters will be on scene this morning and the cause is being investigated. The fire is currently being held, she said.
Another fire, west of Vernon, is burning on Okanagan Indian Band Land east of Okanagan Lake is listed at 100 hectares is size, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.
The fire is also being held, and B.C. Wildfire crews assisted the Okanagan Indian Band Fire Department this morning, Bonnett said.
Initially listed at 10 hectares, Bonnett said the size of the fire would likely change today but that's not reflective of fire activity, it means B.C. Wildfire crews were able to better determine the fire's perimeter.
"We know it's a long weekend and people are spending time outside so if they are going to have a campfire or do some sort of backyard burning to be mindful of the open burning regulations and also mindful of fire use. On days where it's windy that can catch people off guard if they don't have the proper equipment on site," Bonnett said.
It's an early start to fire season, but comes after one of the driest month of March on record.
READ MORE: March was dry as a bone in Thompson-Okanagan, especially in Kelowna
- This story was updated April 2, 2021 at 2:10 p.m. to update the size of the Okanagan Lake fire.
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