Quilchena Creek wildfire now classified as under control

The Quilchena Creek wildfire has moved one step closer to being fully extinguished by the BC Wildfire Service.

The 839-hectare blaze, located just East of Merritt, is now classified as under control.

Under control is described as; The fire has received sufficient suppression action to ensure no further spread of the fire.

The Quilchena fire is one of six currently burning in the Kamloops Fire Centre with five of the fires listed as under control and one blaze near Lillooet classified as ‘new.’

The BC Wildfire Service has also released its first seasonal outlook of 2021.

“The southeast corner of the province and the Okanagan, received below-average precipitation over winter and as a result have carried extended drought conditions into spring in valley bottoms and at lower elevations,” reads the outlook.

“B.C. has started to have grassfire activity. These fires have occurred in valley bottoms where light fuels are able to dry out quickly in sunny or windy conditions. This is a typical pattern for this time of year, and B.C. Wildfire Service is expecting wildfire activity to increase in snow-free areas with these light fuels (grasses and needles). This hazard will decrease as grass becomes greener. Current suppression tactics are successfully holding most wildfires to a small size,” continues the report.

Predicted fire conditions are normal for the entire province.