UPDATE: The Semlin wildfire, burning 16 kilometres east of Cache Creek, is now estimated to be at 40 hectares, double the size of an earlier estimate.
The wildfire service now has air tankers and 22 provincial firefighters at the scene of the blaze, burning south of Highway 1 and the Thompson River. The fire was discovered late in the afternoon today.
Information officer Madison Smith says the blaze is burning in fine fuels, and photos show it is burning adjacent to the CN Rail line.
Smith couldn’t comment on specific fire behavior nor if crews will be at the scene overnight.
She says the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
#BCWildfire is currently responding to a grass fire S of #BCHwy97 ~16 kms E of #CacheCreek. Air tankers are onsite & 22 BC Wildfire Service personnel are responding. Please be aware that the fire is highly visible from the highway and surrounding areas #Kamloops pic.twitter.com/ZZQ5f49U2Q
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 27, 2019
@Kamscan bit of a fire across the river between Cache Creek and Juniper Beach #bcwildfire pic.twitter.com/tMki001bKp
— Jennifer Hahn (@jenmariehahn) August 27, 2019
ORIGINAL: The BC Wildfire Service is responding to a new grassfire west of Kamloops.
The new fire is about 16 kilometres east of Cache Creek and is located south of Highway 1 and the Thompson River.
Fire information officer Madison Smith says the wildfire service has sent a three-person initial attack crews as well as a bird dog plane out to the scene.
The fire is listed at 0.01 hectares in size and Smith says that could change after crews get a better look.
No word yet on the fire’s cause.
