UPDATE: Rain helps Christie Mountain firefighting efforts

Rain helped dampen the fire activity on the Christie Mountain wildfire last night.

B.C. Wildfire Service fire information officer Greg Jonuk said today, Aug. 31, they are assessing how much precipitation fell last night but added, "any amount helps."

Jonuk reminded residents to remain clear of the wildfire’s area restriction, which remains in place. He said some trees inside the fire zone are burning from the inside out, and pose a safety hazard to the public should they fall.

Wildfire crews are demobilizing from the northeast corner of the blaze and will be mopping up between helipads in the Matheson Creek area. The number of firefighters working the blaze dropped to 176 firefighters today, the wildfire service reported this morning.

There are also eight helicopters providing air support.

Other crews, including rappel firefighters, are building access to remote areas in the northern parts of the fire and working them, while hot spots are being treated along Gillies Creek.

Patrols continue in the upper parts of Heritage Hills and hand ignitions continue to burn pockets of fuel on the fire’s eastern flank.

This afternoon the wildfire service reported a number of single trees on the western flank of the fire were burning internally and have been coming down, creating visible smoke. The trees are all within the fire perimeter.

B.C. Wildfire reported last week the 2,122.5 hectare fire was likely lightning caused.

The evacuation order and several alerts activated due to the wildfire have all since been rescinded.

– This story was updated at 4:20 p.m. Aug. 31 to include updated information from B.C. WIldfire Service about burning trees.

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