Progress on major wildfires

Photo: File photo

The Allie Lake fire, 55 kilometres northwest of Kamloops, is currently at 2,739 hectares.

It's shaping up to be a busy year for B.C. wildfire firefighters.

Unseasonably warm, dry weather in the Kamloops Fire Centre region over the weekend resulted in lots of wildfire activity.

Ground crews and support aircraft responded to a number of new fires, as the BC Wildfire Service increased its response to the two largest fires in the region.

As of Tuesday, firefighters have made significant progress toward containing the three remaining "out of control" wildfires.

The Chattaway Lake fire, northwest of Merritt, sits at 65 hectares. It started on Sunday.

A line of fire retardant has been established by aircraft, and heavy equipment operators fully enclosed the fire with a fire guard. Ground crews are working to suppress hot spots from the fire's perimeter.

The Allie Lake fire, 55 kilometres northwest of Kamloops, is currently at 2,739 hectares.

Currently, 139 firefighters, seven helicopters and 12 pieces of heavy equipment are working to establish a fireguard around the perimeter.

Crews have made significant progress containing this fire over the past few days, resulting in a decreased need for support from helicopters or airtankers.

Structure protection units (large-scale sprinkler systems) have been deployed in some areas.

Thompson-Nicola Regional District Emergency Operations Centre officials said the Allie Lake wildfire no longer poses an imminent risk of danger to life and health and the evacuation alert has been lifted.

However, an area restriction is currently in effect for this wildfire. 

The Xusum Creek wildfire, 35 kilometres west of Lillooet near Anderson Lake, is burning at 500 hectares.

Air support, ground crews and heavy equipment operators have been working hard to control this fire. It is now 35 per cent contained.