Kullagh Creek wildfire near Kamloops held at 149 hectares, evacuation order downgraded

The Kullagh Creek wildfire was discovered on June 16, 2026 near the north end of Stump Lake, about 30 km south of Kamloops, British Columbia, and quickly grew from an initial 30 ha to 149 ha. The fire burns along Highway 5A between Kamloops and Merritt and is being classified as a Rank 1 smouldering ground fire.

The Thompson‑Nicola Regional District declared a state of local emergency, issued an evacuation order for one property at 8805 Kullagh Lake Rd., and an evacuation alert for roughly 30 neighbouring properties. By June 17 the evacuation order was downgraded to an alert as cooler temperatures and lighter northwest winds limited further spread.

Fire‑fighting resources included 61‑71 personnel, several helicopters, and heavy equipment. Officials said there were no injuries and no homes were lost. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. The BC Wildfire Service and the Kamloops Fire Centre continue to monitor conditions and advise residents to follow official updates.