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UPDATE: Dewdrop fire grows to 260 hectares

UPDATE June 27th 3:15 p.m.:

A wildfire burning near Dewdrop Trail remains out of control has grown another 60 hectares since this morning, putting it at 260 hectares. Smoke is still visible from Kamloops and Highway 1.

The fire burning in the Lac du Bois Grasslands escalated from a controlled burn to a 32-hectare fire yesterday evening after the area saw dry, windy conditions. It spread to 200 hectares overnight.

Fire information officer Justine Hunse said 69 firefighters are now battling the blaze and an additional 20 are expected to join them tonight. Air support provided additional attacks earlier today but is not currently involved.

Hunse said there are currently no road closures and still no threat to structures or public safety

"Our firefighters are out there working hard to establish that fire guard and they are busy laying hoseline," she said.

"Out of control" is a new technical term the BC Wildfire Service is using in 2017 and refers to a fire that is not responding to suppression action, such that the perimetre spread is not being contained.

Original story, June 27th 9:45 a.m.:

Firefighters are battling an out-of-control wildfire burning 12 kilometres west of Kamloops that has grown to 200 hectares since yesterday afternoon. The fire is burning in the Lac du Bois Grasslands near Dewdrop Trail and was visible from several parts of Kamloops by yesterday evening.

Fire information officer Justine Hunse said the B.C. Wildfire Service had been performing a controlled burn in the area since June 16th in response to an earlier wildfire that had been discovered.

The original fire is under investigation, but it is believed to have been human caused. Hot, dry weather yesterday combined with gusty winds caused the burn to flare up.

Hunse said 20 firefighters were on scene yesterday evening and received support from two air tankers and four skimmers. Forty firefighters will be tackling the blaze today. No structures are currently threatened. B.C. Wildfire will be providing updates as they come available.

The current fire danger rating throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre is high with pockets of extreme.

<who> View of smoke in Brock last night. Photo submitted by Linda Guiguet.</who>

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