A view of the Palmer Fire in Washington State from Osoyoos last night
Image Credit: Facebook / Brett Glendinni
August 19, 2020 - 11:42 AM
As B.C. wildfire crews battle the Mount Christie blaze, their counterparts are actioning a similar wildfire just across the U.S. border.
Washington State State Department of Natural Resources Communications Manager Janet Pearce says the wildfire, which broke out yesterday afternoon, grew from 20 ha yesterday to 3000 ha this morning, Aug. 19.
The fire is located just northeast of Loomis, Washington and has resulted in evacuation notices for properties in the area. The smoke is clearly visible in the South Okanagan today.
Pearce says “multiple resources” are on scene. The blaze is being fought by Natural Resources, local fire departments and the Bureau of Land Management.
“The Bureau of Land Management is in charge of the fire. We’re chipping in to do all we can to contain it,” Pearce says.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and is under investigation.
“We’re starting to get a few firefighters with COVID-19, so we have to be really cautious in our camps, and now that we’ve got an extended fire, that does put our firefighters in danger of COVID-19,” she says.
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