B.C. Wildfire Service providing air support in Washington wildfire

The B.C. Wildfire Service is assisting its American counterparts as they try to tame a wildfire threatening 50 homes just across the Canada-U.S. border.

Southeast Fire Centre fire information officer Kim Wright says the B.C. Wildfire Service has been supporting the American wildfire fighting effort on the Customs Road wildfire with air tankers.

Two Lockheed Electra tanker planes have been dropping retardant on the fire since Sept. 8.

Wright says no structures on the Canadian side of the border are currently under threat. The air support will continue as long as requested.

The Northwest Interagency Coordination Centre in Washington reports today the Customs Road fire continues to burn about one and a half kilometres west of Curlew, and 12 kilometres southeast of Midway, B.C.

The fire started around 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, spreading rapidly due to strong winds, and is presently only 15 per cent contained.

More than 2,288 acres have burned, along with five residences.

The fire has prompted evacuations along several roads near Curlew as it burns in grass and brush.

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