FILE PHOTO - BC Wildfire crews are within a day of containing the Princeton wildfire, now at 3,300 hectares and 90 per cent contained.
(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
July 21, 2017 - 6:30 PM
PRINCETON - Fire crews continue to make progress on the Princeton wildfire.
B.C. Wildfire Service said today, July 21, the wildfire burning 10 kilometres north of Princeton is now 90 per cent contained, at 3,300 hectares.
B.C. Wildfire information officer Brent Zbaraschuk says crews hope to have 100 per cent containment sometime tomorrow, which will hopefully trigger a downgrading of evacuation orders to alerts.
He says cloudy, calm conditions are allowing ground crews to continue work controlling the perimeter of the fire and make progress pushing 200 feet into the fire zone.
Zbaraschuk says 60 kilometre an hour winds arose yesterday, knocking down several trees that burned to the roots.
“That’s something residents returning to their homes need to be aware of,” he says.
Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen Information Officer Cameron Baughen said new resources have been set up in Princeton to help residents and evacuees dealing with wildfires in their areas of the province.
The Skills Centre at 206 Vermillion Avenue can provide assistance for people in setting up on-line banking and email addresses to access Red Cross assistance, while counselling services are being provided through a resiliency centre set up at the Princeton Seniors Centre at 126 Angela Ave.
Evacuees can get access to food at the Princeton Food Bank at the Princeton Baptist Church, 160 Old Hedley Road, open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A second emergency support services centre has also opened up at the Penticton Community Centre, 325 Power Street in Penticton, open from 9 a.m to 9 p.m.
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