A wildfire caused by a lightning strike is burning up trees and open grass north of Cranbrook.
A 20-person crew was on the ground fighting the fire 7.5 kilometres southwest of Fort Steele (halfway between St. Mary’s and the Highway 3 and 95 junction), along with one 4-person initial attack crew one one officer.
The fire grew to 6.5 hectares in size by the end of Thursday, and is 60 per cent contained.
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One air tanker was at the fire during the day and more were en route, said fire information officer Fanny Bernard.
No structures are being threatened and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
The fire is generating a lot of smoke and can be seen from the highway.
The blaze came on the same day that a campfire ban was announced for parts of the South Coast, and Environment Canada warned of a major weekend heatwave across the region.
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