Puntzi Lake fire – photo courtesy BC Wildfire Management Branchaze

Williams Lake, B.C. – Fire crews are making progress on the Puntzi Lake fire approximately 130 kms west of Williams Lake.

Fire information officer Kelsey Winter says there was no growth overnight on the 7,000 hectare blaze and says its now 30 percent contained.

“That’s really due to the hard work of ground crews and air support over the last few operational periods.”

She adds mother nature has also lent a hand.

“Yes, we did receive approximately 5 millimeters of rain over some areas of the wildfire yesterday and we are forecasting that same amount of rain today,” says Winter. “So the precipitation as well as the higher humidity has definitely helped with fire suppression efforts.”

She notes the long term weather forecast isn’t as promising though.

“We are thankfully seeing two days of moist and cooler temperatures, however after that we are returning into a period of hot and dry weather,” says Winter. “So we’re definitely not out of the woods yet, it takes quite a bit of precipitation to affect a wildfire and snuff it out.”

Four structures have been lost to the fire and it has placed 90 properties under Evacuation Order and another 183 properties under Evacuation Alert.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.