Central Okanagan

Update: Westside fire 100% contained

Grant Scott - Jul 29, 2012 / 8:35 am | Story: 78508

UPDATE: 9:00 p.m., Sunday July 29 - The Kamloops Fire Centre is reporting the fire above Wilson's Landing is now 100% contained.

Kamloops Fire Information Officer Michaela Swan says crews have made excellent progress, constructing a guard around the fire and reinforced the guard with a wet line, to further control the flames.

The fire grew slightly on Sunday and is now measured at 4.4 hectares.

"We have been getting a number of calls regarding the flames that are visible tonight," says Swan. "Those fires are from the fuel contained inside the zone."

Swan added that the crews have been pulled back from the fire zone, but will continue to monitor it closely overnight.

At first light Monday, a full compliment of fire crews will resume the fight to extinguish the flames.

A lightning strike Friday night caused the fire to start about half a kilometre upslope of Westside Road.

UPDATE 2:30 p.m. Saturday - Kamloops Fire Information Officer, Michaela Swan says, as of 2:30 Saturday, the fire above Wilson's Landing is 20% contained. Swan says there has been no fire spread recently, however, the fire does remain active.

Swan says the fire was reported late last night but ministry crews along with those from the Wilson's Landing Fire Department were unable to locate it. Calls came in again just before 10 a.m. Saturday when crews were able to locate and action the blaze.

The fire is estimated at about two-and-a-half hectares in size.

The fire is in very steep terrain and Swan says the slope has created some challenges for crews. Swan says the slope can act like wind and fan the flames.

Four aircraft (two planes and two helicopters) are assisting 10 ground crew members on the fire. Swan says 20 more ground personnel are on their way.

She reminds people to report fires as soon as possible. Swan says several callers indicated they had been watching the fire burn for a few hours before calling forestry.

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A small forest fire is burning in the Wilson's Landing area along Westside Road, south of Fintry Provincial Park.

"It's just up above Wilson's Landing," says Fire Information Officer Michaela Swan. "It's currently estimated at half a hectare in size and there are two initial attack crews on site."

Initial attack crews are three member teams who move in first to assess the situation and begin a preliminary plan of attack.

"They have requested the air tankers out of Penticton as well as one helicopter with an additional crew."

Swan added that the firefighters on the scene suspect the fire was started by lightning sometime Friday night, but noted that further investigation is still required to confirm the cause.

The call came in shortly before 10:00 a.m. Saturday.

"It's still an active fire and it is not contained. It has a moderate rate of spread at this time but there is no immediate threat to any structures."

If you have any pictures or video of the fire, please email [email protected].