Jordan Turner, Fire Information Officer for the Southeast Fire Centre, says the smoke we're seeing in Castlegar may be from a 3 1/2 hectare fire burning on Perry Ridge 4 1/2 km west of Winlaw.
Turner, who spoke to the Castlegar News by phone just before 8 p.m., said the fire is believed to be lightning caused, has no roads near it and they are in early response mode attacking it from the air.
He said the plan at this point is to have crews on the ground in the morning.