Nearly 30 days after ignition, the Keremeos Creek wildfire is now considered held.
The more than 7,000-hectare wildfire, burning 21 kilometres southwest of Penticton, is no longer “out of control” as of Friday, Aug. 26.
BC Wildfire Service says fire behaviour is minimal around the perimeter.
Discovered on July 29, the wildfire prompted hundreds of evacuation orders for properties in Olalla and Keremeos, as well as on Green Mountain Road and Apex village.
All orders and alerts were rescinded by Aug. 23 as activity towards occupied areas was reduced.
“Fire burning at a safe distance within the existing perimeter will be allowed to burn and self-extinguish,” BCWS wrote in an update. “Hotspots or single trees being consumed do not threaten further spread at a sufficient distance from control lines.”
With its newest classification of the blaze, BCWS says the wildfire is not expected to grow.
The Keremeos Creek wildfire remains one of three fires of note in B.C., with 79 firefighters currently assigned to work the blaze.
BCWS is reminding residents that smoke will continue to be visible from Highway 3A and surrounding communities.
The fire increased in size by 100 hectares last week, due to high winds and a pair of planned ignitions. The risk of thunderstorms remain in the forecast on Friday night and into Saturday.
READ MORE: No more evacuation alerts for the Keremeos Creek wildfire
