A grassfire burning on a hillside near Aberdeen Mall is believed to be under control, according to Kamloops Fire Rescue.
"At this point, the way it's going, I think we've got a good handle on it and [we'll] have it knocked down here shortly," new fire chief, Ken Uzeloc, told reporters at the scene shortly before noon.
Reports of the fire began just before 11 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
Kamloops firefighters were attacking the grassfire with water applied from above and from the bottom of a gully. A helicopter was also involved in the response.
Uzeloc said KFR believes the fire started down in the gully, which is below Hillside Way. Asked if they have reason to believe campers in the area were responsible for the fire, Uzeloc said there had been reports, but KFR has a fire prevention officer who will be attending the scene to investigate where and how the fire began.
The fire is under the power line right-of-way off Cariboo Way, with firefighters staging in an empty lot next to the Kamloops Veterinary Hospital.
The City of Kamloops is asking the public to avoid the area of Hillside Drive from Notre Dame to Hillside Way while Kamloops Fire Rescue respond to the fire. As of about 2:30 p.m. Hillside Drive has partially reopened. Traffic delays continue in the area and residents are asked to use alternate routes if possible.
