The wildfire season appears to have begun in earnest, with BC Fire Service crews deployed to several new fires in various parts of the province.
Crews were called out Monday afternoon to a new fire burning just 7.5 kilometers west of Kamloops.
The Polígon pond fire measured 4.57 hectares in area, and smoke is very visible from Highway 1, Highway 5 and the surrounding area.
0:27 Hot, dry weather prompts campfire ban in Kamloops Hot, dry weather prompts campfire ban in Kamloops
Read more: Keremeos Creek wildfire grows in size, prompting more evacuation orders
Story continues below ad
The fire is burning alongside the Trans-Canada Highway and is expected to affect traffic, the wildfire service said.
“Ground personnel and a helicopter are on scene and air tankers are en route. Kamloops Fire Rescue and New Afton Fire Services are assisting our crews,” the service said.
Read more: Hot, dry weather prompts campfire ban at Kamloops fire station
Drivers in the area are asked to monitor DriveBC for updates on the state of Highway 1.
Trending stories
-
Nancy Pelosi arrives in Taiwan as China issues warning
-
Is the pandemic over? What to expect from COVID-19 in the coming months
Crews were also called to a pair of remote fires at the Coastal Fire Station. The lightning-triggered Southgate River fire, near the north-east end of Bute Inlet on the Sunshine Coast, was burning at 208 hectares by Monday afternoon.
About 4.7 kilometers southeast of that fire, the S Elliot Drainage Fire was also burning out of control at 16.5 hectares.
The bushfire service said both fires were being managed as a single complex and 20 firefighters, five helicopters and industry support had been deployed.
“Smoke is visible across parts of Vancouver Island, including Campbell River and Courtney. Smoke has also traveled north and east of the fire locations, depending on prevailing winds,” the service said.
Story continues below ad
We are responding to the Briggs Creek Lightning Wildfire (N70969) located approximately 4 miles from the community of Southfork and 7 miles west of Kaslo. This fire is currently estimated at 380 ha and is a very vigorous surface fire with a moderate to rapid rate of spread. pic.twitter.com/IHZ4teyQBQ
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 2, 2022
In the Kootenays, crews were called to the Briggs Creek fire, about 7 miles west of Kaslo.
The fire had grown to 386 hectares by Monday evening and was “very vigorous”, the bushfire service said.
The fire was highly visible from Kaslo but did not immediately threaten any structures, the wildfire service said.
Earlier in the day, the wildfire service announced a campfire ban would go into effect at the Kamloops Fire Center at noon Thursday.
2:29 Evacuation order in effect for Apex Mountain Village due to aggressive wildfire Evacuation order in effect for Apex Mountain Village due to aggressive wildfire
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.