by UPDATE: 11:35 p.m.
A fast-moving wildfire threatening homes northwest of Kamloops is now covering 180 hectares, officials say.
The BC Wildfire Service provided an update to the Sparks Lake fire at 11:30 p.m., saying the blaze north of Kamloops Lake had nearly doubled in size in a matter of hours.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District on Monday night issued evacuation alerts for a handful of properties in the area.
The blaze is now considered a wildfire of note, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
Do you have photos or video of the fire? Email [email protected]
UPDATE 11 p.m.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has issued an evacuation alert to nine rural properties being threatened by the Sparks Lake wildfire.
The impacted addresses are:
- 8092 Tranquille-Criss Creek Rd
- 8088 Tranquille-Criss Creek Rd
- 4000 Leblond Rd
- 7900 Seven Lakes Rd
- 8185 Seven Lakes Rd
- 7750 Tranquille-Criss Creek Rd
- 7645 Tranquille-Criss Creek Rd
- 7560 Tranquille-Criss Creek Rd
- 7501 Tranquille-Criss Creek Rd
The evacuation alert was issued as of 10:30 p.m.
“This evacuation alert has been issued to prepare you to evacuate your premises or property should it be found necessary. Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to evacuation; however you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions,” the TNRD said in a news release.
The latest size estimate of the Sparks Lake wildfire remains at 100 hectares. The fire appears to be burning in an area that has not been touched by logging in recent years, providing ample fuel for the fire’s growth.
UPDATE 9 p.m.
The BC Wildfire Service is now estimating the Sparks Lake fire at 100 hectares in size.
The fire, northwest of Kamloops, has moved rapidly since being discovered sometime late Monday afternoon.
Officials pegged the fire at about 40 hectares just after 7:30 p.m.
Fire information officer Madison Smith told Castanet News earlier this evening no structures are threatened by the fire.
There are 27 personnel on the ground with some heavy machinery.
Crews also had support from the air earlier in the evening.
UPDATE 7:45 p.m.
A wildfire burning out of control northwest of Kamloops has grown quickly since it was spotted late Monday afternoon.
BC Wildfire Service fire information officer Madison Smith says the fast moving Sparks Lake fire has grown to 40 hectares in size.
Smith says 27 personnel are on the ground, supported by air tankers, helicopters and heavy equipment.
No structures are threatened as a result of the fire.
Castanet news will continue to update the fire as information becomes available.
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UPDATE 7:30 p.m.
The B.C. Wildfire Service’s map has placed the fire directly north of Savona.
The provincial agency still has not provided an update on the situation, but numerous aircraft are attacking the fire.
Castanet will continue to update as information becomes available.
ORIGINAL 5:55 p.m.
The BC Wildfire Service may have another blaze to deal with.
A tweet from Jeff Putnam shows a large plume of smoke in an area west of Kamloops.
It’s believed the fire is in the area of Red Lake.
Castanet News has reached out to the BC Wildfire Service for further information.
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