Dry conditions return to fuel Ainslie Creek wildfire

“Looking ahead, weather is expected to shift slowly back toward warmer and drier conditions, with temperatures returning to the high 20s. Winds are expected to remain lighter and generally south-westerly.”

In the northeast finger of the fire, closest to Nooaitch and Prospect Creek Forest Service Road, firefighters are working to extend guards from Edgar FSR to the Teepee and 32 roads. Crews are also developing containment lines closer to the fire’s perimeter.

“Crews continue to prepare and plan for a second ignition south and west of the previous block. This will significantly reduce the risk of the fire spreading to the west and south. Due to the rainfall on Friday (August 14), this will occur when conditions allow,” said the BCWS.

“Structural protection remains in place in the Prospect and Nooaitch area.”

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has not put any new evacuation orders or alerts in place since Wednesday (Aug 12) and the City of Merritt has yet to issue any evacuation alerts.

In the south, structure protection crews are protecting values in addition to helping wildland firefighting crews in keeping the fire from crossing Highway 1.

“Structure protection crews are operating in three overlapping shifts to ensure 24-hour coverage and maximum resource availability during peak burning hours,” said the BCWS.

“With the increase in fire behaviour falling debris poses an increased danger to Highway 1.”

Smoke is limiting the BCWS’s use of aviation resources, but helicopters are bucketing to suppress the most active areas when visibility allows.

In the east, near Uztlius Creek and South of Spius Creek, crews are working to contain the the flames while taking advantage of the weather conditions.

“Objectives are to construct control lines around the head of the fire and keep it from crossing Maka Creek or moving north up the Spius. Crews and equipment are taking advantage of the reduced fire behaviour to directly attack the fire perimeter,” said BCWS officials.

“When conditions allow, ignitions will be used to burn out the pockets of fuel between the fingers and create a shorter, more easily contained edge.”

On Friday (Aug 14), the BCWS implemented an area restriction around the fire.

by Elora McCormack

Dry conditions return to fuel Ainslie Creek wildfire

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