Update: 3 p.m. August 1:
According to Kamloops Fire Centre staff, ground crews are on scene attempting to get the Mount Bastion fire under control.
A fire east of the hills above the west shore of Mara Lake was assessed this morning but suppression efforts have not begun yet as BC Wildfire crews get to work on over 20 new fires started by the lightning storm which raged across the Kamloops Fire Centre on July 31. A second fire in the Larch Hills which appeared on the BC Wildfire Service’s online map proved to be a duplicate report of the fire near Mara Lake.
Update: 9 p.m. July, 31:
According to the BC Wildfire Service, a Rappattack crew was inserted by helicopter to begin attacking the Bastion Mountain fire at approximately 8:40 p.m. A heli-tanker will also provide support to the crew on Bastion until sundown. The rappel crew will fight the fire overnight.
The wildfire service’s current wildfires map currently has the Mount Bastion Fire measuring 0.01 hectares.
The lighting storm started at least 8 new fires in the Okanagan-Shuswap region. According to the wildfire service none of them are near structures or populated areas at this time.
Original story:
After a brief but intense burst of lightning strikes hit the Salmon Arm area, BC Forestry crews are responding to multiple fire reports. Crews have been alerted to a fire on Mount Bastion. Smoke can be seen rising from the southwest side of Bastion.
An aircraft was seen circling the column of smoke.
Reports indicate a helicopter tanker and one initial attack crew is en route to the Bastion Mountain fire.
More to come.
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