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Update: Wildfire service crews respond to spot fires south of Salmon Arm

Crews also make further progress on Kingfisher Creek fire near Sicamous.
Jim Elliot
Jim Elliot
18383577_web1_20190903-SAA-Thunder-storm-JE-052
Numerous lightning strikes hit the North Okanagan and Shuswap as a storm rolled through on Tuesday, Sept. 3. (Jim Elliot/Salmon Arm Observer)

Update 3:35 p.m Sept. 4:

The BC Wildfire Service is working on another spot fire south of Salmon Arm which they suspect was caused by last night’s thunderstorm. According to the wildfire service, three firefighters have been dispatched to the site of the Bergerac Lake fire which is approximately seven kilometres south of Salmon Arm, just west of Highway 97B.

The BC Wildfire map also shows a spot fire, less than 0.01 hectare, on the south side of Mt. Ida.

Original Story:

The thunderstorm cells which swept over the North Okanagan and Shuswap on the evening of Sept. 3 left at least one spot fire burning in their wake.

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The wildfire service sent four personnel to begin suppression efforts on a small fire off Hullcar road southwest of Enderby. Fire information officer Taylor MacDonald said the fire measures less than .01 of a hectare. No structures are threatened by the fire and MacDonald said it is unlikely to be visible from major roadways.

Meanwhile, the Kingfisher Creek fire which was discovered on Sept. 1 is still being held by wildfire service crews and well on its way to being extinguished. MacDonald said 17 wildfire service personnel are patrolling the fire area and mopping up hot spots.

Read More: Update: Fire at Kingfisher Creek near Sicamous being held at under a hectare

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MacDonald said as the weather warms up today, holdover fires caused by the Sept. 3 storm may be spotted and reported to the wildfire service.

@SalmonArm
jim.elliot@saobserver.net
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18383577_web1_copy_190911-SAA-spot-fire-map
The most northerly red dot refers to a spot fire at Bergerac Lake fire, about seven kilometres south of Salmon Arm, while the lower one refers to a spot fire on the south side of Mt. Ida. Image taken at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4. (Wildfire BC map)
Jim Elliot

About the Author: Jim Elliot

I’m a B.C. transplant here in Whitehorse at The News telling stories about the Yukon's people, environment, and culture.
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