rain helps fire fighting effort

KELOWNA – The Okanagan Mountain Park fire is estimated to be 25,600 hectares in size.  Resources in place include 650 fire-fighters, 20 helicopters and 150 pieces of heavy equipment. 

The cooler and moist weather has enabled fire crews to make good progress establishing and securing control lines.  The fire remained stable overnight with no significant spread and is now estimated to be 65 per cent contained.

With the stable weather conditions crews and equipment have been able to work closer to the fire’s edge.  While air tankers and helicopter bucketing help cool and slow the fire spread, it is the on-the-ground crews that will actually contain and put the fire out.

The weather forecast is for cool unsettled weather to remain through Friday, with no chance of precipitation.  The fire will continue to smoulder in the organic layers of the forest floor, with open flame where ever there are the fuels on the ground.

B.C. Forest Service would like to remind the public that fire fighting operations are being conducted close to residences and ask that people stay away from these areas for their own safety.