UPDATE: B.C. Wildfire extinguishes Westsyde blaze

KAMLOOPS – B.C. Wildfire says numerous calls from the public helped them keep a small fire from getting out of control in an interface area on Serle road in Westsyde.

The response to the fire came from Wildfire members, along with Kamloops Fire Rescue and the RCMP. Municipal fire crews were the first to respond as the fire burned within city limits.

Ten Wildfire members hit the roughly one-hectare fire close to David Thompson Elementary with four smaller-sized air tankers and created a guard, preventing it from spreading. Ground crews and Kamloops Fire Department remained on scene in mop up, according to fire information officer Melissa Welsh.

"We also were thinking of getting a helicopter to bucket this fire," Welsh said. 

The fire, suspected to be human-caused, was contained around 6:30 p.m. Three fire trucks, police and ambulance remain on scene. No structures were threatened. 

Kamloops Fire Centre has responded to over 123 fires so far this season. Eighty-eight were human-caused, while the remaining were caused by lightning.

Welsh credits those who called in to report this fire.

"So much of our wildfires are reported by the public," she said. "We really rely on those reports."

There are currently no campfire bans in place, but Welsh expects that to change due to the soaring temperatures expected to continue next week.

"We are anticipating a ban, possibly next week," Welsh said. 

To contact a reporter for this story, email gbrothen@infotelnews.ca, or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724. 

– This story was corrected at 8:03 a.m. Saturday, July 12, 2014 to correct the name of David Thompson Elementary School.