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Good progress for fire crews

Two days of cooler weather has helped firefighters make good progress while battling a number of wildfires across the Okanagan-Similkameen.

"Here in Kelowna the winds are quite calm and crews are already en route to the fires," says BC Wildfire Service information officer, Noelle Kekula. "They're getting an early morning start getting onto all of the fires that they are working on."

The five 'fires of note' are still the Mount Eneas fire burning between Peachland and Summerland which is estimated to be 1,374 hectares in size.

The Goode's Creek wildfire located on the east side of Okanagan Lake in Okanagan Mountain Park which is still estimated to be at about 400 hectares.

The Law Creek lightning-caused fire is an estimated 8 hectares in size is burning about six kilometres southwest of West Kelowna. This wildfire has many homes under an evacuation alert.

The Mount Conkle lightning-caused wildfire near Summerland has gotten smaller according to the BC Wildfire online maps and is an estimated 93 hectares in size.

The Placer Mountain wildfire which is burning 37 kilometres south of Princeton has grown and is now about 320 hectares in size.

There are also two newer wildfires burning just north of Naramata. One is called the Paradise Ranch fire burning at about 55 hectares and the other one is called the Glenfir Rd wildfire burning at 25 hectares.

All hands are on deck Sunday morning to battle the multiple fires, says Kekula.

Crews literally busted their humps up and down the mountain building lines," she said. "Crews are really working hard to stop the fires from any growth."

"It [Mount Eneas] is really steep terrain there is a lot of valleys and gullies."   

The BC Wildfire Service is working on an update this morning but despite hardworking crews and great weather, Kekula says many of the larger wildfires have grown overnight, but have stayed within their containment lines.

Over 200 firefighters, 18 helicopters, heavy equipment, air tankers and skimmers are currently fighting the fires.

Castanet will update the public when more information becomes available.

BC Wildfire wants to remind boaters to stay away from BC Wildfire air support while they do operations on the lakes.



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