Progress made on stubborn wildfire near Oliver
OLIVER – The Testalinden Creek fire burning west of Oliver is now 80 per cent contained but still not under control.
The blaze burning since the middle of August has consumed 4.3 square kilometres of grass, sagebrush and timber so far.
Most of the fire activity is on the northwest side and crews have made good progress and continue to put out hot spots, according to B.C. Wildfire fire information officer Rosalie MacAulay in a media release.
The northwest side of the fire is proving to be a bigger challenge.
“The crews continue with direct attack and establish fuel free,” MacAulay says. “They will be supported by helicopter bucketing operations.
B.C. Wildfire crews, supported by heavy machinery and helicopter bucketing operations, are directly attacking the fire and working to remove fuel ahead of the blaze.
Firefighters are also working at night to extinguish hot spots outside of the fire guard.
“With current conditions, the fire behaviour has increased in the vicinity Tinhorn Creek resulting in increased visible smoke,” she says. “The southern end of the fire is looking really good and crews continue to mop up in this area.”
An evacuation alert remains in place for 180 homes.
There are 132 firefighters, 5 helicopters, 8 pieces of heavy equipment and 69 support staff working the fire.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
