No growth on the Christie Mountain wildfire overnight

B.C. Wildfire Service is reporting minimal growth on the Christie Mountain wildfire since yesterday.

The fire remains at 2,035 hectares and is currently a rank one, smouldering ground fire, the wildfire service reported this morning, Aug. 25.

The fire, which began on Tuesday, Aug. 18, about six kilometres north of Okanagan Falls on the east side of Skaha Lake, forced the evacuation of Heritage Hills subdivision as well as prompting evacuation alerts for southeast Penticton and the upper Carmi area, some of which have since been rescinded.

Today, 192 firefighters are working on site along with structural protections crews, working on the southwest flank of the fire.

Firefighter support from several other communities also continues.

They will be supported by 15 helicopters and eight pieces of heavy equipment.

Crews are also working to reinforce control lines at Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park in addition to looking for small burn out opportunities.

Crews also continuing to closely monitor trigger points each day.

An area restriction has been implemented for the wildfire and continues to be in effect.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.


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Steve Arstad


I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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