Similkameen wildfire likely human-caused

CAWSTON – Fire crews have the upper hand on a wildfire burning east of Cawston this afternoon.

The blaze, about four kilometres east of Cawston, was reported last night, April 9, by a member of the public, according to B.C. Wildfire.

It has burned 16-hectares of grass, sagebrush and light timber. Fifteen firefighters are working the wildfire this afternoon and it’s expected it will be contained by tonight.

B.C. Wildfire fire information officer Ryan Turcot says they suspect it is a human-caused blaze.

Turcot says there have been eight wildfires in the Kamloops Fire Centre so far this season, with seven still actively burning.

He says all of the wildfires have been relatively small, and while it is a bit early for fire crews to be so busy, it’s not unprecedented.

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