Smoke can be seen from Christie Mountain wildfire thanks to weather conditions

B.C. Wildfire Service crews continue to douse hotspots as work on the Christie Mountain wildfire continues to wind down.

The wildfire service reports today, Sept. 3, there are 107 firefighters working the blaze, along with six helicopters.

Fire information officer Forrest Tower says a weather inversion left a bit more smoke than usual lingering over the fire today, but there has been no increase in fire activity over the past few days and no increase in the size of the fire.

“Fire activity is really minimal, we’re really into mop up stage and establishing a 100-foot perimeter in places where needed,” Tower says.

Even with higher than normal temperatures anticipated over the next few days, Tower says no major changes in fire activity is anticipated.

In the next few days, parts of the fire on the western side will be scanned to identify any remaining hotspots while firefighters continue to patrol the perimeter around Christie Mountain Lane and Apple Court to Matheson Drive in the Heritage Hills area.

Crews in the southeast corner of the fire are creating a 100-foot mop-up from the perimeter of the fire inwards and rappel crews are identifying individual hotspots and putting them out.

The 2,155 hectare fire is believed to have been started by lightning on Aug. 18. An evacuation order for Heritage Hills and several alerts for parts of Penticton were issued but all have since been lifted.

An area restriction order that includes Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park and surrounding area remains in place.


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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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