A new wildfire burning near Harrison Lake has already been upgraded to a “wildfire of note.”
The Bear Creek fire, burning on the east side of Harrison Lake about 22 kilometres from Harrison Hot Springs, was first discovered early Tuesday evening, forcing the evacuation of campers in the area.
The fire is believed to be human-caused.
Ground crews, helicopters and air tankers responded to the fire Tuesday night, with helicopters using night vision imaging to bucket after dark. But the fire still grew overnight to an estimated 65 hectares.
The BC Wildfire Service has designated the blaze as a “wildfire of note,” which is saved for fires that are “especially visible or pose a threat to public safety.” It's the only wildfire of note burning in the province at this time.
Wednesday, 44 BCWS firefighters are working on the fire, along with one helicopter and three airtankers.
“The public is asked to stay out of the Harrison Lake area for their own safety and responder safety,” the BCWS says.
“When firefighting aircraft are working on an active wildfire and picking up water from nearby lakes, they need plenty of room to maneuver to do their job safely. We urge the public to use common sense and keep their boats well away from areas where air tankers or helicopters operate.”
