Control lines going up around Brenda Creek wildfire off Hwy 97C

Photo: BCWS

The Brenda Creek wildfire on Monday

Crews appear to be making progress boxing in a large wildfire burning off the Okanagan Connector near Brenda Mines.

The Brenda Creek wildfire is still estimated to be 824 hectares in size, a figure that has held since Sunday.

After a successful planned ignition on the eastern flank of the fire Tuesday helped secure control lines, crews are now focusing on the southern edge of the blaze where a 25-foot wet line is being installed.

“Crews will continue to patrol and monitor spots along the power line to the north of the fire and will be patrolling the west flank,” BCWS said Wednesday evening.

That power line is only link between BC Hydro's grid and the Greater Westside.

“Night operations will continue with direct attack with heavy equipment and completing small hand ignitions to clean up the guards if conditions on site are favourable.”

Structural protection teams and equipment remain deployed and are staying on scene overnight to monitor high-value assets. That structural protection team includes 16 firefighters from six different fire departments.

There are also 51 provincial firefighters, four danger tree fallers, three helicopters and 19 pieces of heavy equipment assigned to the fire.