Photo: BCWS

Crews working to establish fuel free zone on southwest corner this week

BC Wildfire Service said that the Keremeos Creek Wildfire will look to remain relatively stable throughout Friday and into the weekend, even with thunderstorms forecast Friday night through to Sunday.

There are 185 firefighters, 13 structure protection personnel, a liaison from Lower Similkameen Indian Band, 15 helicopters and 19 pieces of heavy equipment currently stationed on the fire. The fire is still estimated at 6,950 hectares.

On Wednesday, all evacuation orders were pulled down by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. Evacuation Alerts remain on 20 selected properties along Green Mountain Road and Marron Valley Road.

One structure was lost when the fire first sparked in late July, and the entire communities of Olalla and Apex Mountain Village were evacuated.

BCWS said that the fire is currently stable along the western side of Highway 3A, and operational objectives remain mostly the same there, in its update on Friday afternoon.

On the west side, crews are completing a 25-foot mop up, from Keremeos Creek ridge where the aerial ignition was completed on Aug. 1.

Mop-up and patrol continues throughout the Western flank of the fire, and along Green Mountain Road where BCWS said there is minimal fire activity.

At the north end of the fire, crews will continue to use direct attack methods to extinguish hot spots from within the fire's perimeter.

Danger Tree Assessors and fallers continue to patrol this area of the fire and ensure areas are safe within the fire perimeter.

Thanks to subsided growth and fire activity, structure protection has been significantly downgraded as personnel continue to clean up protection equipment.

BCWS noted that smoke will continue to be visible from Highway 3A and surrounding communities.

"This is common with large wildfires, and smoke will continue to be visible until there is significant rainfall over the fire. Smoke appearing from well within the fire perimeter and burned material is common."

Smoke that is spotted rising from green, unburned fuel or from outside of the fire's perimeter should be reported.

To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.