VANCOUVER (CBC) - A forest fire burning about 30 kilometres northeast of Cranbrook, B.C., has shut down Highway 93 on Tuesday afternoon.

Fire crews are working to control the blaze, which has not threatened any homes, said Karlie Shaughnessy, a spokesperson for the Southeast Fire Centre.

The fire was reported around 11:30 a.m. PT and has been burning on both sides of the highway. Traffic is being rerouted along Highway 95A through Kimberley.

"The fire was originally started east of Highway 93 and it was near some power lines," Shaughnessy told CBC News.

"Apparently, the fire jumped Highway 93 and now is moving towards the Kootenay River. There are no structures threatened."

Smoke is billowing several hundred metres into the air, said Bob Termuende, a resident of Fort Steele, near Cranbrook.

"[There were] huge clouds of smoke coming from ... maybe five or 10 miles up the road. It was a pretty impressive fire and the smoke has spread now," he said in a telephone interview.

Fire crews have not determined the cause of the fire.

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