Crews within the Kamloops Fire Centre encountered a busy weekend, responding to nine new fire starts between Friday and Sunday. One fire, now known as the Dutton Creek wildfire, sparked just outside of Oliver, B.C., on Saturday.
Firefighting efforts involved crews and a helicopter working to cool the fire front, making it more manageable for ground crews. The Dutton Creek wildfire in the Gallagher Lake area has reached approximately four hectares in size and is currently classified as held.
Crews continue to establish control lines, conduct fuel management activities, and extinguish remaining flames. Small fires, like the Dutton Creek fire, are not uncommon during this season, however, fire officials urge the public to practice caution with any campfires or open burning.
As of April 1st, there have been twelve wildfires within the Kamloops fire centre, resulting in 49 hectares burned. Human activities are suspected to have caused eleven of these wildfires, which remain under investigation.
Fire safety precautions are crucial, even though there are no current campfire or open burning bans in the Kamloops Fire Centre. Ensure you have water on hand, a proper fuel break, and constantly monitor fires until they are completely extinguished.
Despite the low to moderate fire danger rating in the Kamloops Fire Centre, underlying drought conditions persist. Substantial rainfall is necessary before the official start of wildfire season to alleviate these conditions.
