Kamloops police say a grass fire near Battle Bluffs today was likely set intentionally before it grew to nearly six hectares.

BC Wildfire Service responded to the fire early this morning, July 16, and had it under control before 5:30 a.m.

When police got to the scene, they found a heavily burned vehicle in a trailhead parking lot.

Tk’emlups Rural RCMP is investigating the blaze and currently trying to find the owner of the car, spokesperson Cpl. Dana Napier said.

“During the preliminary stages of this investigation an initial assessment suggests the fire was set intentionally,” she said in an emailed statement.

The parking lot adjacent to the blaze is in the Lac du Bois grasslands area, roughly 12 kilometres west of the Kamloops airport, is a popular spot for hikers who are heading to Battle Bluffs to park.

Photos of the scene posted to social media show the burned car and a field of charred grassland, which the wildfire service estimated to cover 5.7 hectares, along with a licence plate.

The photos also show what appears to be a charred trail of what might have been burned accelerant leading to the car.

It’s not clear whether the vehicle, which appears to be a Dodge Avenger, was reported as stolen.