The BC Wildfire Service has confirmed that the number of wildfires classified as 'out of control' in the Okanagan has decreased to five; a sharp decline from the 14 that started burning last week.
One of those still classified as 'out of control' is the Mount Eneas wildfire, now estimated to be 1,700 hectares in size after fire crews intentionally combined it with the Monroe Lake wildfire in order to better track its movements.
BC Wildfire Services spokeswoman Noelle Kekula says it'll take some time before that wildfire is classified as 'being held.'
"We need to get guards around the fires and extinguish hot spots around the perimeters," says Kekula. "We need to do a lot of work before we have a level of confidence that we have some containment on these fires."
There's also some strong winds and thunderstorms in the forecast, but Kekula says fire crews will be prepared to pounce on any new fires caused by lightning if need be.
"The good news is that we have 280 firefighters assigned here, and we've got a lot of resources here," says Kekula. "If the lightning does come, and if there are some new wildfires starting from it, we do have some resources here on site, so we can hopefully get on them quickly before they amount to anything."
For updates on current wildfires in the area, as well as evacuation statuses, go to cordemergency.ca.