Wildfire doubles to 16 ha

Photo: George Mapson

Smoke from a wildfire near Allison Lake on Monday, about 20 kilometres north of Princeton.

UPDATE: 5:20 p.m.

The BC Wildfire Service says the Pike Mountain wildfire near Princeton has grown to 16 hectares, more than double the seven hectares it was estimated to be five hours ago. 

Fire information officer Marla Catherall said the fire, burning in a remote forested area west of Allison Lake, is being fuelled by debris in the forest. 

Catherall said temperatures haven't helped, which reached 34 degrees celsius in Princeton on Tuesday, but added there should be some reprieve from intense heat beginning Wednesday. 

No structures are currently threatened by the fire, as 47 provincial firefighters, three helicopters and several air tankers continue to fight the blaze.

BCWS said on Twitter the fire was likely human-caused, and investigators arrived at the scene on Tuesday to confirm the fire's origin.

ORIGINAL: 1:00 p.m.

The Pike Mountain wildfire, burning west of Allison Lake and about 30 kilometres north of Princeton, has grown to seven hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

On Twitter, the BCWS said 46 personnel are at the fire today, as well as well as three helicopters and air tankers.

Crews responded to the blaze early Monday afternoon, and at 3:45 p.m. the fire was mapped at 0.5 hectares.

The blaze is believed to be human-caused.

*An earlier version of this story indicated the wildfire is east of Allison Lake, which has since been corrected.