The BC Wildfire Service says the lightning caused Durand Lake fire, southwest of Kamloops, has grown slightly to 277 hectares in size.

Fire Information Officer Aydan Coray though notes that the rain yesterday helped limit fire activity.

“Through this last few days, the crews have been able to implement a 100 per cent surrounding machine guard and crews are working to enforce that machine guard with some hose way,” she said. “Currently, we have 53 personnel responding and they are being supported by multiple helicopters.”

The Durand Lake Fire is still burning out of control and Coray says the hope is that the fire guard will prevent it from growing in size in the days ahead.

“Crews were able to make good progress on the south and west flanks of the fire with the rain,” she added. “That fire guard will definitely help them gain control.”

An evacuation order remains in place for about 166 properties in the area, details of which you can find here and here.

Meanwhile, the 56-hectare Napier Lake wildfire, south of Kamloops, also has 96 properties in the area north of Stump Lake on evacuation alert.

Coray says just like the Durand Lake and Sparks Lake wildfires, the rain helped firefighters make some progress yesterday.

“The rain and suppression efforts from our crews definitely made a difference last night,” Coray said, noting the fire is still classified as out of control.

“BC Wildfire Service is responding with 11 personnel today and we’ll have air support available as necessary,” said Coray. “Crews worked through the evening to secure the fire perimeter before it reached any homes in the area.”

Given the improving conditions, the TNRD downgraded an evacuation order to an evacuation alert yesterday evening.

Coray says a cause of the Napier Lake Fire is still under investigation.