©BCWildfireService

Fire behaviour on the Ainslie Creek wildfire was reduced due to smoke on Thursday, the BC Wildfire Service is reporting. The BCWS said in an online update the fire grew about 500 metres to the south along Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon today, but no significant growth was seen at higher elevations. The fire is now a kilometer north of the primary control line running from the Fraser to the Anderson River. The northeast flank of the fire near Merritt, however, remained “relatively calm” Thursday with some active burning near Hooshum Forest Service Road, the BCWS reported. “On the east flank, fire behaviour was lower than expected. As with yesterday, it did not grow across Maka Creek due to suppression from crews and heavy helicopter bucketing,” the BCWS said. Fire activity near the Hooshum was suppressed with heavy helicopter bucketing, and night vision equipped helicopters will continue this work.