234943
235591
Salmon Arm  

Wildfire on north shore of Shuswap Lake now classified as 'held'

Shuswap wildfire 'held'

UPDATE 6:20 p.m.

The BC Wildfire Service says the Horseshoe Bay wildfire is now classified as "held."

That means fire officials believe it will not spread beyond its current boundaries, of 18.5 hectares, under current conditions.


UPDATE: 11:05 a.m.

The Horseshoe Bay wildfire on the north shore of Shuswap Lake saw "a little bit of growth" overnight.

BC Wildfire Service fire information officer Shaelee Stearns says the fire saw that growth "at the top of the fire," in steep terrain.

It continues to be mapped as having burned 18.5 hectares.

A retardant line was successfully placed Sunday, and ground crews working on the fire's flanks were supported by a helicopter ferrying equipment to the top of the fire as well as bucketing water.

Stearns says the wildfire service is looking at adding more staff to the fire today, but that number is not yet known.

Photos from the area today show very little smoke.

Stearns says the fire has been burning at Rank 1 and 2, meaning it is a slow moving, smouldering ground fire.

Cooler overnight temperatures have seen little activity in the morning, but it can flare up as the day gets warmer.

ORIGINAL: 9:45 a.m.

A wildfire that started Thursday on the north shore of Shuswap Lake continues to burn out of control.

The BC Wildfire Service website shows the fire has grown to 18.5 hectares in size. It had been estimated at 15.7 hectares on Saturday.

The fire at Horseshoe Bay, near St. Ives, is believed to be human caused.

The Shuswap Emergency Program has no update so far this morning, but previously said crews were expected to continue fighting the fire through the weekend.

Twenty BC Wildfire crew members were assigned to the fire, backed up by helicopter support.

Fifteen new fires started across B.C. in just the last two days.

Eight are in the Kamloops Fire Centre, which encompasses the Shuswap and Okanagan.

Four are in the Southeast Fire Centre, and three in the Cariboo.



More Salmon Arm News