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Finlay Creek fire keeps growing; dry conditions biggest factor

WATCH: Extensive coverage of the Finlay Creek wildfire which is burning out of control near Peachland.

The Finlay Creek fire continues to burn out of control between Peachland and Summerland and has now grown to 2,139 hectares according to BC Wildfire Service.

“The fire has been increasing in size on the steep south slopes of Mount Acland,” according to the latest release from BC Wildfire officials.

Officials have ignited a controlled burn in the area in hopes of rerouting the flames so they don’t breach the fire guard.

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Wildfire officials say the main reason this fire is spreading is because of the tinder dry conditions, but accurate GPS mapping has also given crews a more accurate estimate of the size.

“There has not been significant rainfall in the Finlay Creek area in over 12 weeks,” wildfire officials said.

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The plan for firefighters Friday is to build a new guard around the fire’s northern perimeters and continue with more controlled burning.

Right now 55 homes have been evacuated and 140 more near remain under an evacuation alert. There was good news for some Peachland area residents. Friday afternoon an evacuation alert for 306 properties in that area was lifted.

For full details on where exactly those orders and alerts are, click here.

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