Crews fighting B.C. wildfire brace for winds

Firefighters battling a rapidly spreading wildfire near Kamloops were bracing for high winds Friday afternoon.

The B.C. Wildfire Service said Friday that the East Shuswap Road fire had grown to 500 hectares, or five square kilometres, up from 3.5 square kilometres on Thursday evening. It is classified as an out-of-control fire.

Fire officials are concerned about strong winds in the forecast on Friday afternoon, and say firefighters are expecting increased fire activity.

Environment Canada posted a special weather statement for the region Friday, saying southwest winds will gust to near 50 km/h in the afternoon in the Okanagan and Nicola regions.

Stronger northwesterly winds with gusts up to 70 km/h were expected in the evening.

The federal agency also posted Friday a smoky skies warning for Kamloops and the surrounding region, saying the area is likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke over the next 24 to 48 hours.

On Friday, authorities sent 103 firefighters, four helicopters and air tankers to fight the fire, she said.

The wildfire, which broke out Thursday in the Shuswap Road area, is pushing smoke toward Kamloops and is highly visible from Highway 1.

Kamloops Fire and Rescue said six homes were evacuated as a precaution, but that evacuation order has since been rescinded, and no homes were threatened.

An emergency reception centre has been set up the Secwepemc School.

Kamloops assistant fire Chief Steve Robinson says the reserve is not under an evacuation alert.

Recreational boaters have been asked to stay clear of Paul Lake, where air crews are gathering water to battle the blaze.