Shetland Creek wildfire near Spences Bridge balloons to 5,000 hectares in size

The wildfire that triggered the Thompson-Nicola Regional District’s (TNRD) evacuation order and alert between Ashcroft and Spences Bridge saw substantial growth Wednesday (July 17).

In an update shortly after 8:00 a.m. Thursday, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) lists the Shetland Creek wildfire at 4,125 hectares in size. It’s nearly 15 times the size of the measured 285 hectares as of Wednesday.

Then at 10:00 am, Cliff Chapman, the director of provincial operations with the BC Wildfire Service, confirmed during a news conference in Kamloops that the two wildfires near Spences Bridge merged.

The complex will be refered to as the Shetland Creek wildfire going forward, and it is now measured at 5,000 hectares in size.

The nearby 249-hectare Teit Creek wildfire is no longer listed on the BCWS map online, but it hasn’t been confirmed if it merged with the Shetland Creek wildfire.

Image credit: Facebook/David Walkem

The BCWS states there’s a full response to the Shetland Creek wildfire, which includes 10 personnel, five helicopters, two bulldozers, two excavators and three water tenders. A structure protection specialist is also assigned.

The terrain and fire behaviour, along with dry and hot conditions, have given BCWS crews challenges with the Shetland Creek wildfire.

The Shetland Creek wildfire is one of two out-of-control fires within the Kamloops Fire Centre, with the other being a spot fire south of Murtle Lake west of Blue River. Two wildfires within the Kamloops Fire Centre are being held and eight are under control.