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(UPDATE: Aug. 15 @ 9:15 am) - The wildfire that sparked on Hamilton Hill, right beside the Okanagan Connector (Hwy 97C), is now under control.
According to the BC Wildfire Service, it did not spread beyond the three hectares that it was listed as shortly after it was discovered Monday night.
(Original story: Aug. 15 @ 6:15 am) - A new wildfire sparked just outside Merritt on Monday night.
The Hamilton Hill wildfire was discovered alongside the Okanagan Connector (Hwy 97C) shortly before 7 pm.
The BC Wildfire Service suspects the fire is human-caused.
It was estimated at three hectares in size in the BCWS’ last update of the night, posted around 8:15 pm.
Early footage of the fire posted to social media by Tera Thompson-Pemberton showed highly-visible flames alongside the highway.
BCWS crews attacked the fire Monday evening and Thompson-Pemberton posted shortly before midnight that “it’s contained but not under control. Glad they got at it when they did.”
NowMedia will update this story when more information becomes available this morning.