Crews were called to two small brush fires started next to Highway 1 on Saturday night, south of Ashcroft.
BC Wildfire Service information officer Taylor MacDonald tells NL News one fire east of the highway is 0.5 hectares in size and another west of the highway in close proximity is two hectares, both located between Spences Bridge and Ashcroft.
MacDonald says the fires were showing minimal fire behavior early in the evening, at rank one and rank two levels, and says no structures or other values are threatened. She says 26 BCWS personnel responded along with the Ashcroft Fire Department.
The fires caused a brief closure of the Trans-Canada Highway through the area but traffic is now getting through at a single lane according to DriveBC.
The causes of the two small fires are not known. The fires follow two vehicle fires along that stretch of highway in the past three weeks that resulted in brush fires in both cases; however no vehicle fire has been reported in connection to today’s two incidents.
(Photo: Twitter: Brian Erb)
Wildfire just south of Ashcroft. Fire services en-route. pic.twitter.com/pxXU159hdX
— Brian Erb (@brianerb) August 18, 2019
Quite frightening to see smoke and fire on the roadside near Ashcroft. Called in. Comforting to hear the sirens of the Ashcroft Fire Department. Thank you to everyone who attended. #ashcroft #wildfire pic.twitter.com/BKQyUKTmm6
— Jackie Tegart (@tegart_jackie) August 18, 2019
