Wildfires north of Spences Bridge could continue to grow due to hot, dry conditions, wind gusts

All images courtesy : BC Wildfire Service

Jul 16, 2024 | 1:45 PM Roger White

Two out-of-control wildfires burning north of the community of Spences Bridge could continue to spread on Tuesday (July 16) afternoon.

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) notes an unnamed wildfire nearly 7.5 kilometres north of Spences Bridge has grown to 50 hectares since being discovered Friday (July 12) evening.

BCWS fire information officer Taylor Colman said the fire became more active Monday (July 15) afternoon.

He said the blaze is spreading at a moderate to fast rate and is a moderately vigorous surface fire with an organized flame front.

“We do have two crews on site today (July 16) along with support from a wildfire officer and a helicopter,” Colman told CFJC Today. “We’re working to reassess what objectives are actually achievable based on where the fire is now.”

Meantime, an 11-hectare wildfire burning 5.5 kilometres north of Spences Bridge triggered an evacuation order by Cook’s Ferry Indian Band.

As of 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, members of Reserve No. 6 – Nicoelton are being told to leave the area due to the imminent danger of life and safety

Colman said the 11-hectare fire has stayed on the ridge top and is posing no risk to Spences Bridge.

“The terrain is rocky and extremely steep, so it’s unsafe for ground crews to be put into the area,” Colman said. “We’re continuing to plan what response might be feasible with aircrafts. Or, if the fire changes the way it’s burning and where it’s burning, we might be able to get crews in.”

The wildfire service is expecting to see wind of up to 40 km/h out of the south Tuesday afternoon, gusts that would push the fires north. Colman notes the direction and speed of the winds will influence how quickly the fires will spread and where they will push.

“We haven’t seen any reprieve in terms of temperatures or rain at all in the last two weeks,” Colman said. “The moisture level in the fuels is really low. The fuels are more receptible to not only ignitions of new wildfire starts, but also the rate of spread of which a fire can move is much faster with the dryness of the fuels.”

As of noon Monday, the wildfire service’s fire danger rating shows the Kamloops Fire Centre as having a high risk.