Forest fire season continues as Southeast Fire Centre personnel battle a roughly 25 hectare fire at Brewer Creek, 10 kilometres west of Fairmont Hot Springs and south of Invermere.

“It’s really a day-to-day process looking at what is currently happening, what is predicted to happen and making a plan from there,” Southeast Fire Centre fire information officer Fionna Tollovsen said.

The fire, which was first reported on August 20, is currently being attended by 38 personnel, supported by two helicopters and and five pieces of heavy equipment. As of Wednesday, August 22, the fire was reported to have been contained on the east side, and crews were hard at work to build a fuel-free barrier to prevent the fire from growing any further. Tollovsen added that at the time, the smoke was heading straight up into the air, which would help alleviate any smoke issues in surrounding communities.

The fire is believed to have started as a result of a lightning strike, and there is currently no threat to any properties or infrastructure. Tollovsen was unable to give a timeline for how long it would take to have the fire completely contained, as changing weather and shifting winds can either help personnel or make fire suppression efforts more difficult.