Fire crews anxiously watch weather at Testalinden Creek | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Fire crews anxiously watch weather at Testalinden Creek

A helicopter douses hot spots on the Testalinden Creek fire. Fire officials are working hard to contain the fire's northwest flank in anticipation of a strong wind developing this afternoon.

PENTICTON -  B.C. Wildfire firefighters expect to spend an anxious day on the front lines in the battle against the Testalinden Creek wildfire with strong wind in the forecast.

Fire information officer Heather Rice says the wind is expected to pick up from the south around noon today, Aug. 28, which could be detrimental to firefighters trying to contain the Testalinden Creek wildfire’s northwest flank.

“The weather today will be our main challenge. If we get over today, the weather forecast is for cooler temperatures and maybe some rain, which will help us get a handle on the north west flank,” she says.

Rice says fire activity was visible from Oliver last night after the smoky conditions cleared somewhat and visibility improved. She says crews have been working the north flank hard, noting control work in the Hester Creek drainage has gone very well.

Aircraft were able to access the fire late yesterday, but air support so far today has been limited as smoky conditions have returned to the fire zone, she says.

Firefighting efforts today will likely be limited to indirect attacks on the fire front, she says, adding the fire showed minimal growth last night.

The anticipated weather conditions also resulted in the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen issuing an extended evacuation alert for properties north of the fire zone late yesterday.

The latest Environment Canada forecast for the region calls for mainly cloudy conditions with a 30 per cent chance of showers, widespread smoke and winds from the south at 30 kilometres an hour after noon, with a high of 23 Celsius. Thunderstorms and rain are forecast for Saturday.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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