UPDATE: Savona brush fire contained and in mop up

SAVONA – A quick and intense attack by firefighters brought a brush fire in Savona west of Kamloops under control within hours of it starting this afternoon.

The fast moving fire sparked over the noon hour, May 14, along Highway 1 in Savona at Watson Drive East grew to about four hectares before crews had it 100 per cent contained, according to B.C. Wildfire Service information officer Max Birkner.

A crew from the Savona Volunteer Fire Department was first on the scene until 12 B.C. Wildfire firefighters took over.

Two air tankers dropped retardant on the blaze while a bird dog aircraft kept an eye on the fire.

Birkner says the blaze didn’t threaten any structures and is now in the mop up stage. No word yet on the cause of the fire.

Highway 1 was closed for several hours with a detour and reopened at about 5 p.m., Drive B.C. says.

For the latest on the highway’s status go to DriveBC.ca.

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— This story was updated at 12:48 p.m., Saturday, May 14, 2016 to add new photos.

— This story was updated at 2:15 p.m., Saturday, May 14, 2016 to add video and more details.

— This story was updated at 4:17 a.m., Saturday, May 14, 2016 to add new information from B.C. Wildfire Service.

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