Controlled burn operations continue on Testalinden Creek fire

PENTICTON – Fire fighters on the Testalinden Creek and Wilsons Mountain fire continued to make progress on the fire front today.

B.C. Wildfire spokesperson Noelle Kekula says the Testalinden Creek fire is now estimated to be 1,850 hectares in size, at 40 per cent containment. It is currently being worked by 126 firefighters, 10 helicopters and 13 pieces of heavy equipment.

Kekula says air crews have assisted during burn-out operations, which have been ongoing all day. The burn-out operations are largely responsible for an increase in smoke from the fire, she says.

Evacuation alerts are still in effect. Kekula says more containment is needed before there will be any changes to the alert.

The Wilsons Mountain fire presently sits at 317 hectares burned and is 70 per cent contained. It is being worked by 11 firefighters and one piece of heavy equipment. A B.C. Wildfire incident management team is managing this fire, supporting local firefighters in a coordinated wildfire response effort.

There may be an increase in containment percentages depending on crew reports later today.

Kekula adds weather-wise, hot and dry conditions are expected to continue today, with a shift to gusty, northwest winds occurring tomorrow evening and night.

More information is available on the B.C. Wildfire website.

Information on evacuation orders and alerts can also be found on Infonews.ca.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.