Update Sept. 7 –
The BC Wildfire Service is respomding to two out of control fires in the Southern Interior.
The Shovelnose Mountain Fire, 30 km sout of Merritt is estimated at about 15 hectares in size. No communities or structures are threatenend, but there are 34 wildfire personnel on site, along with two helicopters.
The Kathleen Mountain fire is about 26 km west of Peachland as it also out of control about about 10 hectares in size. There are 30 wildfire personnel responding to this blaze, along with two helicopters and two pieces of heavy equipment.
Smoke is visible from both Kelowna and Peachland.
The two fires are among several burning across the Kamloops Fire Centre.
UPDATE: The Shovelnose Mountain fire (K61721), ~30 kms S of #Merritt, is ~15 has & remains classified as out of control. 34 #BCWildfire personnel are on site, supported by 2 helicopters. No communities or infrastructure are currently threatened. pic.twitter.com/O8QCtYCTvE
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) September 7, 2019
UPDATE: The Kathleen Mountain fire, ~26 kilometres W of Peachland, remains out of control & is ~10 has. 30 #BCWildfire personnel are working to establish control lines, assisted by 2 helicopters & 2 pieces of heavy equipment. Smoke is highly visible from #Kelowna & #Peachland. pic.twitter.com/CtrQZM8aen
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) September 7, 2019
Original –
Provincial fire crews are responding to a new fire south of Merritt this afternoon.
The Shovelnose Mountain fire is currently mapped at three hectares, and is burning about 30 kilometres south of Merritt, east of the Coquihalla Highway and north of Brookmere.
The BC Wildfire Service says the fire is burning in heavy timber, and it says 20 firefighting personnel are responding with help from air tankers.
Watch this story for updates as new information progresses.
