Crews battling back the Smith Creek fire are working today to establish 50 feet of wet line around the entire fire perimeter, which remains 260 hectares in size and is 60 per cent contained.
Complicating the effort is that the forecast for today includes temperatures near 30 C and reduced humidity values; this may result in more smoke and periodic open flames inside the fire containment area. However, showers are forecasted for this evening and tomorrow which will assist ground crews in their efforts towards increasing containment, said Kelsey Winter with the Ministry of Forests in a press release.
“Though many visible signs of fire activity have been reduced, we wish to remind the public that work continues in the area. Crews will continue to utilize local roads to access the fire and the public may notice increased traffic volumes. We ask the public to use caution on and around the roadways,” said Winter.
A Restricted Area Order is in place to ensure the safety of workers and the public. The public will not be permitted on Crown Land surrounding the fire which includes various roads and trails. Access points are being monitored by the RCMP and violators will be charged.
Details can be found here.
Okanagan residents are currently experiencing increased smoke throughout the valley from wildfires burning south of the border in Washington State. The closest fire is more than 30 km away from the border and at this time does not pose a threat to any values here.
Resources on the fire today are same as the last operational period with 80 firefighters, 27 support personnel, 4 helicopters, 2 water tenders, 2 dozers, 2 skidders and 1 excavator. Today
