Smoke blankets Kamloops as brush fire burns near Royal Inland Hospital. City urges public to avoid lower Peterson Creek area while crews respond.
Fire Ignites Near Kamloops Hospital, Smoke Spreads Citywide
A brush fire broke out Thursday afternoon on a hillside directly behind Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, B.C., casting heavy smoke across the city and triggering a swift response from emergency services.
City Advises Public to Avoid Peterson Creek Zone
The fire, located near Peterson Creek Park just south of the hospital, prompted the City of Kamloops to request that residents avoid the lower Peterson Creek area. The advisory was shared via the city’s official Facebook page as fire crews began battling the flames.
Firsthand Accounts Reveal Intensity of Flames
Kaedyn Bert, a patient at Royal Inland Hospital, witnessed the fire from his sixth-floor hospital room. “It was raging for a good few minutes,” Bert said. “One tree went up like a campfire—just whoosh.” He praised the rapid response by local crews, adding, “Thankfully, we have really good first responders here in Kamloops.”
Emergency Teams Mobilized to Contain Blaze
Kamloops Fire Rescue is leading suppression efforts on the ground. The B.C. Wildfire Service confirmed it is deploying additional personnel to assist, although no formal statement has yet been released by local fire officials regarding the fire’s size or current containment status.
No Evacuations or Injuries Reported
As of Thursday evening, there were no evacuation orders or injuries reported. Royal Inland Hospital operations remained unaffected, although staff were monitoring the air quality and outdoor access points due to the thick smoke in the surrounding area.
Fire Cause Under Investigation as Conditions Remain Dry
The cause of the blaze has not been confirmed. However, Kamloops—situated about 250 kilometres northeast of Vancouver—is currently experiencing dry early summer conditions that have elevated wildfire risk throughout the region.
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