The town sounds like a war zone as the helicopters and water bombers work around the community throughout the day. There are flatbeds with heavy equipment on them parked in strategiclocations in the town. In the early morning light I can't seen much more than a km through the dense smoke. The winds are calm and the helicopters and water bombers work hard on Mt. Ida as they try to push the fire back from the south side of Salmon Arm. Later in the day the smoke lifts a bit and the fire size is upgraded to 3000 hectares.
Signs appear thanking the fighters for their efforts.
Saturday Aug 8 Bad news on the radio. We are told another cold front with strong winds is to blow through the community on Monday. Winds are to remain calm for the next 2 days. The fire is reported as being stable and the size is now estimated at 4700 hectares. The evacuation alerts and orders remain in effect but there is a feeling more will be necessary if there is more wind.