Smoke from the flare-up of the Ross Moore Lake fire on Saturday, which rolled over Kamloops through the afternoon/Via BC Wildfire Service
The BC Wildfire has confirmed a new wave of smoke rolling over Kamloops on Saturday afternoon was related to the continuing Ross Moore Lake fire.
Forrest Tower with the BC Wildfire Service says the fire had picked up a bit in intensity through this Saturday due to warmer temperatures and increased winds.
“It’s not growing at any significant rate of spread, or movement in each direction,” noted Tower as of 5:30pm on Saturday. “It’s not moving the toward the City of Kamloops or at any direction east or west toward either Highway 5A or Highway 5 (Coquihalla). It’s mainly just along that western perimeter.”
Increased fire activity has been expected to continue for the next couple of weeks as the fire continues to burn trees and other fuels within the established fire perimeters.
Tower does say the smoke on Saturday was a bit unexpected.
“It’s a bit of un-forecasted southeasterly winds,” said Tower. “That’s what’s driving a bit of that growth.”
Locations of existing and new fires in the region/Via BC Wildfire Service
Meanwhile, BC Wildfire crews are tackling a separate fire to the south of the Ross Moore Lake Fire.
The now-dubbed Moore Creek fire — initially called the Beaver Creek fire — was first spotted just before 2pm on Saturday afternoon.
It jumped from spot to over 4-hectares in size, burning in an area north of Nicola Lake, to the west of Highway 5A.
“We do have an initial attack, in addition to one helicopter and air-tanker support on that as well this evening,” said Melanie Bibeau, with the Kamloops Fire Center.
That fire is several kilometers away from the Little Beaver Creek Ranch, on the opposite side of the 5A.
The initial name of the now-Moore Creek fire had raised concerns the blaze may have been impacting the popular tourist guest ranch in the Quilchena area.
At the same time, wildfire crews are also battling a new fire near the former Tolko Mill in Merritt.
The Lilly Lake Road fire was listed at 0.6-hectares in size as of late Saturday afternoon.
Southeasterly winds have caused increased activity on the west flank of the Rossmoore Lake wildfire (K22024) which has led to increased smoke that is now visible from Kamloops and Highway 5. #BCHwy5 pic.twitter.com/NdvGFH6HqO
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 29, 2023
