Wildfire near Kamloops sparks evacuation alert, ground crews pulled
Crews had to be pulled from the fight against the 80 hectare out of control wildfire yesterday that's burning around 15 kilometres from Kamloops.
Ground crews were evacuated yesterday afternoon, Aug. 1, due to increased fire behaviour caused by high temperatures and wind, and will not be returning until it is determined to be safe to do so, B.C Wildfire Service fire information officer Melonie Bibbau said today.
The wildfire service has two officers and a helicopter assessing the area and mapping the size of the Watching Creek fire today, while other aerial resources continue to evaluate possible response tactics.
An evacuation alert was issued by the regional district's emergency operations centre last night.
The wildfire in Electoral Area “J” poses a threat to life and property on the northwest edge of Lac Du Bois Grasslands Protected Area and east including Pass Lake, McQueen Lake an Isobel Lake, according emergency operations centre.
There are a number of properties in the area, including one civic address, the McQueen Lake Environmental Education Centre.
The fire was caused by lightning and was first spotted on Friday, July 29.
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