Crash sparks wildfire

Photo: Pav Gill

Crews are responding to a fire near Cherry Creek, west of Kamloops.

UPDATE: 7:45 p.m.

BC Wildfire Service says an out-of-control fire near the Cherry Creek area is estimated at 15 hectares in size.

"We have 47 firefighters working on the scene. Right now, it is at about a Rank 1, smouldering, but it is out of control," said fire information officer Max Birkner.

The fire is suspected to have been caused by a vehicle on the road, but Birkner said that has not yet been officially confirmed.

DriveBC says Highway 1 at Cherry Creek is also closed in both directions due to a vehicle fire, but officials have not confirmed whether the incidents are related.

The Kamloops blaze comes just after a wildfire destroyed a home and other structures in the south Okanagan community of Kaleden on Tuesday.

UPDATE: 5:40 p.m.

Highway 1 is closed in both directions at the scene of a vehicle fire at Cherry Creek.

No detour is available, DriveBC reports, and an estimated time of reopening is not yet available.

A scene assessment is in progress, as the fire spread into nearby brush.

ORIGINAL: 4:30 p.m.

Firefighters and an air tanker are responding to a wildfire near Cherry Creek, west of Kamloops.

Pictures from the scene show dark smoke billowing near Kamloops Lake, close to the Tobiano golf course.

A vehicle crash near the Trans-Canada Highway and Gardi Road is reported to have possibly sparked the fire.

Kamloops firefighters and paramedics responded to the scene about 3:40 p.m.