Despite the efforts of water-carrying helicopters, a forest fire that is burning east of
The B.C. Forest Service says the Edgewood fire was caused by humans. Local residents are more specific, saying a couple of teenagers were horsing around with exploding noise makers when they accidentally set it off.
"They started the fire with a bear banger. The people heard the explosion...they were just trying it out and it caught on fire,'' said Edgewood resident Jordan Fenton. "They probably tried to put it out, and they just grabbed their packsacks and got out of there,'' he said.
Edgewood is located about 100 kilometres east of Kelowna.
The good news is that growth of the fire continues to be to the south, away from town. Fire crews say they've managed to create a solid protective guard for between the fire and the village.
"The fire has not grown any closer to the community at all so it's still approximately 1.5 k from Edgewood. The fire has moved in a southwest direction away from town,'' said Karlie Shaughnessy of the B.C. Forest Service.
But despite of these assurances from the Forest Service, helicopters continue to work near the village to douse the flames, a sight that is unsettling to some residents.
"Like if it started [to move] this way, we'd just have to go. There's not much stopping it. It just depends on the winds,'' said Edgewood resident Don Olsen.
Another residents said she is keeping a close eye on the fire's progress. "If it comes down the valley, we're going to have to move,'' she said.
There are currently about 60 firefighters working to prevent to protect Edgewood from the impact of the blaze.
