WILDFIRE WATCH – Grass fire near Savona sends up column of smoke

The BC Wildfire Service is responding to a highly visible and rapidly spreading grass fire beside the Trans Canada Highway about 40 kilometres west of Kamloops near Savona this evening (Monday, May 28, 2018).

A column of smoke is visible from surrounding communities.

As of about 8 p.m. the fire was estimated at 100 hectares. Firefighters and air support are on site and no structures are threatened at this time.

Several other fires continue to burn in the Kamloops Fire Centre area. The Allie Lake fire 55 km. northwest of Kamloops was estimated at 2,700 hectares today and 35 per cent contained. BC Wildfire reported good progress on the fire with the help of cool temperatures overnight.

An evacuation order and alert have been issued for areas surrounding the fire.

The Xusum Creek fire 35 km. west of Lillooet near Anderson Lake was an estimated 500 hectares and 25 per cent contained.

A fire that broke out Sunday near the Chattaway Lake Forest Service Road 27 km. northwest of Merritt was only a few hectares in size but was sending a large column of white-grey smoke into the area.