British Columbia

Wildfire south of Cawston, B.C., grows to 60 hectares

A fire 14 kilometres south of the Similkameen community of Cawston, B.C., has grown to 60 hectares, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.

The B.C. Wildfire Service has sent 44 firefighters air tankers, helicopters and heavy equipment to the fire

A fire just east of Highway 3, south of Cawston has grown to 60 hectares. (BC Wildfire Service)

A fire 14 kilometres south of the Similkameen community of Cawston, B.C., has grown to 60 hectares, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.

The fire, on a slope of Richter Mountain near Highway 3, was caused by a lightning strike and reported on July 24, said fire information officer Nicole Bonnett.

"It will be visible to people, obviously, because it is right there by the highway," she said. 

"[People] will be able to see it from the surrounding communities but it is not threatening any structures or anything like that at this time."

Open flame and a grey smoke can be seen from the fire on the side of Richter Mountain, south of Cawston (Ferdi Louw)

The B.C. Wildfire Service has sent 44 firefighters to fight the blaze assisted by air tankers, helicopters and pieces of heavy equipment to build a fire guard, said Bonnett.

While the fire danger rating in much of the southern Interior of B.C. is ranked low to moderate, parts of the south Okanagan—Similkameen region are rated "high fire danger," she said.

"There is obviously conditions for fires to start, such as this one, so people should be mindful of their fire use," she said.