"We’ve been busy," is how Vaughn McCaig of Clearwater Fire Zone described the last week.
An aggressive forest fire, K10313, at Otter Creek that sprung up on Wednesday, July 8, expanded to about 32 hectares before crews were able to control it, he said.
The fire grew out of a cutblock and spread as far as the CN tracks by the river.
Up to 40 firefighters, two water tenders, three skidder tankers, an excavator and a cat were used to control 
the blaze, as well as several rounds by an air tanker plus helicopter bucketing.
Cooler and damper weather that began towards the end of the week helped bring the fire under control.
Fire K10313 is located near Road 200 across the North Thompson River from McMurphy.
The Fire Zone also dealt with Fire K10328, which was located on Granite Mountain by Jones Creek southwest of Vavenby. As of Monday morning it was mopped up and out.
Even though the weather this week has been somewhat cooler and damper than before, the ban on campfires continues, McCaig said.
The long range forecast predicts the weather could get hot and dry again.
Conservation officers and Forest Service officials will be patrolling to enforce the ban.
One Initial Attack crew (usually three-person) and one forest service officer from Clearwater Fire Zone are taking advantage of the weather and having a few days off.