Oliver and area residents could see increase in smoke as winds pick up
PENTICTON – Cooler, wetter weather slowed the Testalinden Creek fire on the weekend, but strong winds could give the blaze some renewed vigour this afternoon.
B.C. Wildfire spokesperson Heather Rice says the calmer, cooler conditions over the weekend and this morning, Aug. 31, have decreased fire activity.
Rice says while the fire has not grown since Saturday, but crews are seeing an increase in smoke this afternoon thanks to strong, gusty winds. She says fire activity has been in the rank one to two range, with no visible flame, but that could change if wind persists.
“Crews had an opportunity to continue constructing guards over the last couple of days. We’re quite confident in our containment lines, but it all depends how gusty the winds get,” she says.
The Testalinden Creek wildfire has been burning since Friday, Aug 14, and has scorched 4,295 hectares. The fire is currently 60 per cent contained.
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.
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