(Update - 5:20 p.m.) - The fire west of Savona has grown to an estimated 40 hectares and has closed down a portion of Hwy 1 nearby.
Marla Catherall, BCWS fire information officer, says that the growth from the wildfire, now named the Sabiston Creek fire, can be attributed to better mapping, windy conditions and the source of fuel for the fire.
She said that the fire is burning in sage and grass: while grassfires can burnout much quicker, the fine fuels allows for a more rapid spread.
The #BCWildfire west of Savona, now referred to as the Sabiston Creek fire, is ~40 hectares in size. Ground crews will remain on site overnight and airtankers are continuing to provide support. Erratic and gusty winds are challenging suppression efforts.
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) June 5, 2019
The fire is currently being actioned by the local fire department as well as BCWS personnel: 12 BCWS crew members with assistance from air tankers.
Three of the BCWS members will remain at the fire overnight.
No structures are being threatened by the fire at this time, but DriveBC has confirmed that Hwy 1 has been closed three-kilometres west of Savona due to the fire.
CLOSED - #BCHwy1 3 km west of #SavonaBC due to a #BCWildfire. Assessment in progress, no estimated time of opening #Kamloops #CacheCreek
— Drive BC (@DriveBC) June 5, 2019
No detour has been suggested and no estimated time of opening has been noted.
"We just encourage the public to look for updates and road closures on DriveBC," added Catherall.
BC Hydro is also nearby dealing with a power outage in the area that they say is related to the fire. Approximately 419 customers are being affected near the the highway.
BC Hydro crews are on-site assessing the situation and have not yet released on when the power will return to homes.
(update - 3:35 p.m.) The personnel on the scene of the fire west of Savona are about to get some help.
According to fire information officer Taylor MacDonald, air tankers are on the way to douse the blaze.
MacDonald also mentioned that the fire is also an estimated 0.8 hectare.
NowMedia will update the story once more information becomes available.
Witness Nathan recorded video of the fire, adding the flames were "huge" and "raging."
Warning: The below video contains some NSFW language.
(Original - 3:25 p.m.): The BC Wildfire Service, along with local fire crews, are responding to an interface fire that sprouted west of Savona this afternoon.
Fire information officer Marla Catherall explained that six BC Wildfire personnel are fighting the blaze at the west end of BC Hwy 1.
Stay safe Skeetch pic.twitter.com/saFabaSDMW
— RoadCrew (@RoadCrew7) June 5, 2019
"We do have six BC Wildfire personnel responding, and that is in conjunction with the local fire departments," said Catherall.
Catherall mentioned that the fire is still fairly new so no size has been confirmed, though witnesses say it has reached at least one hectare.
"Smoke is visible from the highway, but we don't have a size estimate at this time."
— RoadCrew (@RoadCrew7) June 5, 2019
Catherall went on to say that the cause of the fire is still unknown, but with no lightning in the sky, it very well could have been human-caused.
