A wildfire broke out late Sunday northeast of Osoyoos on Osoyoos Indian Band land and is suspected to have been human caused. Firefighters, including a helicopter and air tanker, had the three-hectare blaze under control by midnight Sunday. With stronger winds later Monday, however, the fire spread and grew to 18 hectares. It is now contained. (Colten Pighin photo)
A wildfire that broke out northeast of Osoyoos late Sunday is suspected to be human caused.
Crews battled the fire until around midnight Sunday, said Kayla Pepper, a spokesperson for the Kamloops Fire Centre of the province’s Wildfire Management Branch.
The fire was on Osoyoos Indian Band land near Mica Creek and it initially reached three hectares in size, Pepper said.
On Monday it was considered under control, though 13 firefighters continued to mop up. Strong winds on Monday afternoon, however, caused it to spread and grow to 18 hectares. It is now contained.
Pepper said the fire centre received reports Sunday evening and responded with an initial attack crew and a unit crew. In addition to ground crews, a helicopter dropped water on the blaze.
Air tankers also dropped retardant at the head of the fire and on its flanks to slow its spread, Pepper said.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
