75% Containment reached at Wilson’s Landing Fire

The shaded area above is under evacuation alert. (Regional district emergency operations centre)

by Dave Preston

Fire crews have managed to get three quarters of the Wilson’s Landing Fire contained.

The latest update from the Wildfire Protection Branch says the 27 hectare fire above Westside Road is 75 per cent contained. Crews used hand tools to build a guard around the fire Monday. Ten personnel worked overnight.

Despite down-slope winds overnight, the fire remained calm.

On Tuesday morning, a total of 70 firefighters returned to fire scene, accompanied by four helicopters and two water tenders. The objective for Tuesday is to reinforce the handguards to further increase containment.

As of Tuesday morning, fire activity around the permiter is minimal with some open flame toward the middle of the fire.

An evacuation alert remains in effect for most of Wilson’s Landing. Westside Road is open to single-lane, alternating traffic.

The fire was started by lightning Friday night.