Wildfire on Strawberry Hill brings back memories
Mar 17, 2021 | 4:41 AM
Doug Collins
KAMLOOPS — A new fire in our area broke out yesterday in the same general area where a serious wildfire broke out in 2003. The fire is burning in the Strawberry Heights Road area east of Rayleigh.
The fire broke out yesterday afternoon, and as of last night, was 16.2 hectares in size. It is not considered an interface fire at this time.
The other fire in our area is the Dot Ranch Cut Off Road off Highway 8 between Spences Bridge and Merritt. It was sitting at 11.0 hectares even as of last night and is considered under control. No cause for either fire at this time.
They are the only two fires burning in the province. There have been 6 new fires in the province in the past week.
The Strawberry Hills fire in 2003 spread quickly up the hillside and moved toward Rayleigh and Pinantan, and forced the evacuation of the Rayleigh-Heffley Creek area. It was one of several wildfires in the area that summer which caused homes to be destroyed and many residents left in emergency shelters.
