BC Wildfire Service representatives and Regional District of Kootenay Boundary officials will host two public meetings tonight to update residents of Grand Fork and Christina Lake about the Stickpin wildfire in Washington State.

These meetings will take place Thursday, Aug. 20 at the following locations:

• Grand Forks – 6:30 p.m. at Grand Forks Secondary School (1331 Central Ave., Grand Forks)
• Christina Lake – 8 p.m. at Christina Lake Community Hall (90 Park Rd., Christina Lake)

Most of the smoke that is visible in parts of the Southeast Fire Centre is coming from fires in Washington, Idaho and the Okanagan. Smoke from these fires is expected to linger in the region due to prevailing winds from the south and west.

Although the BC Wildfire Service is responding to a number of fires that are highly visible in surrounding communities, none of these fires is immediately threatening communities or structures. However, the public may see an increase in the amount of smoke and more firefighting air operations in response to these incidents:

• The fire west of Rossland in the Big Sheep Creek area now covers 140 hectares. Twenty BC Wildfire Service personnel and four helicopters are on site.
• The Hanna Creek fire, located northwest of Oasis, currently covers 0.64 hectares and is 20% contained. Nine personnel and one helicopter are on site.
• The 332-hectare fire burning on Mount Midgley, northwest of Creston, is now 50% contained. Sixty BC Wildfire Service personnel, five helicopters and nine pieces of heavy equipment continue to work on this fire.
• Smoke from the Parker Ridge fire is also highly visible in the Creston region. This 2,500-hectare wildfire is burning south of the U.S.-Canada border.
• A fire burning 5.6 kilometres northwest of Renata currently covers eight hectares. Eight firefighters, three helicopters and three pieces of heavy equipment are on site today.
• The 0.9-hectare Kelly Mountain fire, seven kilometres northeast of Fruitvale, is now 100% contained.

To report a wildfire or an open burning violation in B.C., call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit:  http://www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news on:

• Twitter at:  http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• Facebook at:  http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

For information about wildfires in the United States, please visit:  http://inciweb.nwcg.gov