Smoke is from US and Peachland; Peachland fire 50% contained

Smoke billowing through the Columbia Valley and filling Castlegar and Trail is partly from a 200-hectare fire burning in Peachland, and also from a wilfire in Washington, about 100 km southwest of Grand Forks.

Neither fire threatens communities in the tri-city area. There was one half-hectare wildfire caused by lightning Sunday afternoon, about five miles from Red Mountain, but local firecrews requested the assistance of Southeast Fire Centre (SEFC) crews and the blaze is now in mop-up stages, according to SEFC's Karlie Shaughnessy.

The same cannot be said of the Peachland fire, which has seen roughly 1500 people evacuated and more than 200 hectares ablaze.

"We did receive some precipitation overnight, so what we're seeing now is a smouldering ground fire so far today," said Wildfire Management Branch spokesperson Michaela Swan. "We've been able to hold it through the night (with no significant growth) and we're calling it 50-per-cent contained."

She said the Wildfire Management Branch has 60 staff on site, supported by six helicopters and seven air tankers.