Wildfire Camp moving to Central Park

A section of Central Park in Merritt will be closed until further notice as the city of Merritt has announced that the BC Wildfire Service is moving its temporary wildfire camp from the Nicola Valley Rodeo Grounds to Central Park.

According to the city’s website, the move is being made to allow organizers of the Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo to begin preparing the site for the event September 4-6 in Merritt.

Those who use Central Park can still access the trail behind Ball Field #1. From there, follow the trail to the Rose Garden and into Rotary Park. To return, use the sidewalk on Voght Street.

Firefighters from across the province have been in the Nicola Valley waging a battle against the spate of wildfires, particularly those that are associated with the Brunswick Creek wildfire (7817.92 ha) and Ainslie Creek (40, 622 ha).

As of Friday (August 7) there were 104 wildfires burning in the province with 49 burning out of control.  Twenty wildfires are deemed as human caused as the B.C. Conservation Officer Service reports it issued 18 tickets for illegal fires in Clinton, 70 Mile House, Okanagan Lake, and Boston Bar.

A total fire ban remains in effect for the Kamloops Fire Centre that includes Merritt and surrounding area.