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By Liam Verster

Wildfire Updates

New wildfires spark in Kamloops Fire Centre

Aug 17, 2022 | 1:20 PM

Three new, but relatively small, wildfires have been ignited in the region.

The B.C. Wildfire Service said two of the three fires that sparked Tuesday, Aug. 16, were located near Kamloops.

One fire, which is suspected to be caused by a lightning strike, was sparked near Logan Lake. As of Wednesday morning the fire was estimated to be four hectares in size.

Another blaze that broke out near Rush Lake southwest of Kamloops was an estimated 0.01 hectares in size Wednesday. The cause of that fire remains unknown.

The third fire to spark Tuesday was located north of the Shuswap Lake Marine Provincial Park — Nielsen Beach Site on the Anstey Peninsula, which is south of Seymour Arm. The fire, which has affected a remote, boat-in only cabin and surrounding area was an estimated four hectares in size, and was suspected to be human caused.

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The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) noted that smoke from the blaze may be visible in the Anglemont area.

As of Wednesday morning, the Keremeos Creek wildfire was the sole ‘Wildfire of Note’ in the Kamloops Fire Centre. It was estimated to be 6,948.7 hectares.

The B.C. Wildfire Service said the fire line is stable along the western side of Highway 3A, but with the higher temperatures and lower humidity in the forecast, there is a risk of increased fire behaviour in the northwest and southwest fire lines.

Crews continue to work to establish control lines, manager danger trees, mop up hot spots, and remove fuel loads at the fire southwest of Penticton.

Structure protection systems have been removed from Apex Mountain, but equipment remains on site at Green Mountain Road where personnel are monitoring and suppressing the fire.

Communities south of the fire are expected to see increased smoke from the fire Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, there were 272 firefighters, 10 structure protection personnel, a liaison from Lower Similkameen Indian Band, 14 helicopters and 22 pieces of heavy equipment assigned to the Keremeos Creek wildfire.