UPDATE: Wildfire burning near Highway 1 in Shuswap

 B.C. Wildfire Service crews continue to battle a wildfire that started this morning north of Highway 1 in the Shuswap region, according to the service's fire information officer.

The rank two fire was discovered May 22, according to the service's wildfire map. B.C. Wildfire information officer Kyla Fraser said 20 firefighters and a helicopter were on scene this afternoon along with the Sicamous Fire Department. The helicopter is no longer fighting the wildfire and crews will remain on site into the night, she said.

A rank two fire is classified as one that burns in the surface fuel layer on the forest floor, but below the tree crowns, according to the wildfire service. It is currently out of control.

The wildfire is roughly 0.6 of a hectare in size and is burning on the southwest side of Shuswap Lake between Salmon Arm and Sicamous. Wildfire crews were able to get a better estimate of the fire's size this afternoon, Fraser said.

The fire is currently not threatening any structures and has not affected highway traffic but Fraser asks drivers to avoid the area as it's an active work site.

The wildfire is highly visible in neighbouring communities, she said.

The fire is suspected to be human caused, Fraser said.

Another fire also started northwest of Peachland this afternoon, near Mile Creek. The fire is currently a smoldering five-by-five foot pile and wildfire crews are responding. The fire is expected to be human caused, she said. 

– This story was updated at 4 p.m. to include additional updates from Fraser.

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