South Okanagan-Similkameen Operational Status: Active

The Testalinda Creek wildfire, burning approximately seven kilometres south of Oliver, is now estimated at 3170 hectares. Eleven helicopters and 237 personnel continue to work towards establishing containment.

Southerly winds continue to cause heavy smoke in the Okanagan including the Oliver area. This smoke is from the large Washington fires to the south. Smoke will limit air support efforts over the fire.

Smoke from the Testalinda Creek wildfire may be seen, in Oliver and along Highway 97, as combustible material burns on the slopes around Testalinda and Hester Creeks.

BC Wildfire Service personnel continue to work around the clock on establishing containment lines and controlling expected flare ups with ground crews, air support and when possible burn out operations.

Heavy smoke continues to effect forest fire operations in the South Okanagan as air support is grounded over Oliver with crews are now focused on the ground work.

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Sawmill Rd Fire Camp

Testalinda Creek wildfire is considered 60 per cent contained.

Fire Information Officer Heather Rice: “We are still mainly focusing on the north flank of our fire which is in the Hester Creek area,”….. “We are still running crews 24-7 and fortifying our contingency lines that are not surrounding the north side, east side and west side of the Hester Creek drainage.”

Crews may begin controlled burning in the coming days to reduce fire fuel. Rice says they are continuing to do some back burning work overnight to support those lines. The north and west flanks of the fire have been the most active recently.

There are hundreds of firefighters and support staff currently fighting the blaze with 20 pieces of heavy equipment.