Update: 3 p.m.
Campfires will be banned throughout much of the Souther Interior as of noon on Wednesday as officials try to stomp out human-caused wildfires like one that sprung to life Tuesday near Oliver.
The blaze about eight kilometres southeast of the community charred five hectares at the base of Mt. Kobau within just a few hours.
B.C. Wildfire Branch spokeswoman Melissa Klassen said air tankers had placed retardant around 65 per cent of the fire by Tuesday afternoon and were joined in the battle by three helicopters and 20 firefighters.
Two structures from an abandoned movie set were destroyed by flames, although no homes were threatened, she added.
Klassen said the Kamloops Fire Centre had dealt with 20 fires in the previous 24 hours, and 15 of those blazes were started by lighting, so the campfire ban is meant to ensure resources are available for those sparked by Mother Nature.
The fire danger rating is set at high throughout much of the Southern Interior and in the Penticton area, while it’s pegged at extreme through most of the Cariboo region.
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Posted: 11 a.m.
Firefighters are trying to get a handle on a four-hectare blaze just eight kilometres southwest of Oliver.
Wildfire Management Branch spokeswoman Melissa Welsh said flames were reported today around 8:30 a.m. on the flank of Mt. Kobau.
She said two structures — reported elsewhere to be props from an old movie set — have been destroyed, but no homes are threatened at the moment.
The branch has eight firefighters, two helicopters and one air tanker working on the fire, Welsh said, and more manpower is en route. The fire is suspected to be human-caused.
More to come.
