UPDATED:

The Skuhun Creek wildfire burning west of Merritt has now grown to 28 hectares in size.

That’s up from 12 hectares as of late Monday afternoon.

BC Wildfire Service information officer Madison Smith says there are now 63 provincial firefighting personnel are on site and two helicopters.

She says it’s burning in steep and rocky terrain.

The fire’s cause is still being investigated and Smith says fire investigators are now on site.

The blaze broke out just after noon yesterday near Highway 8 close to the Shackan Indian Band, about 35 kilometres west of Merritt.

Smith says no structures are currently at risk.

Merritt resident Simon Rizzardo says his wife Caitlin, who works for the Ministry of Transportation, was the first to spot the fire yesterday, saying she called it in while doing a patrol on Highway 8.

(Photo: Simon Rizzardo)