The Southeast Fire Centre is reporting no significant new fires and relatively little activity on existing fires, despite dry temperatures and a flurry of fire activity just to the west near Salmon Arm and Kamloops.

Those fires, combined with a temperature inversion are to blame for the smoky skies in the Revelstoke area, says fire centre information officer Suzanne von der Porten.

The Galena Bay fire, which has remained mapped at 2,084 hectares for the past week, is seeing some increased activity inside of its boundaries as fuels not consumed during the initial fire are burned. 20 firefighters remain working on the blaze. They are being supported by one air bucketing helicopter. The fire is 80 per cent contained.

The Beaton fire remains relatively unchanged in the past 72 hours, remaining at an estimated 300 hectares. One piece of heavy equipment is working on the modified response fire.

The only new fire reported in the past week is located about 20 kilometres south of Galena Bay at Fosthall Creek. The lightning-caused fire remains small at about 24 hectares, and is now 80 per cent contained.

Several fires in remote areas north and northeast of Revelstoke remain listed as modified response, meaning officials continue to monitor the fires, but they are not being actively battled at this point.

The Revelstoke area was relatively calm in terms of wildfire activity compared to areas further west, including areas near Kamloops and Salmon Arm. Several fires of note have caused evacuations and evacuation alerts.

Those fires were sparked on Aug. 21 during an intense lightning storm that passed through the area.

The largest blaze is the Notch Hill fire near Sorrento, which grew to almost 2,000 hectares as of Saturday.

(A smaller blaze nearby — the Chase Creek fire — remained at 80 hectares and was 80 per cent contained).

The Martin Mountain fire near Pritchard doubled in size from Friday night to Saturday afternoon, jumping to about 1,400 hectares.

The Community Lakes blaze, located northeast of Kamloops, about 20 kilometres from Knouff Lake, was a seven-hectare blaze on Friday — by Saturday, it had grown to 200 hectares.

Revelstoke Mayor David Raven urged residents to remain alert to the dangers posed by wildfire.

A monthly fire summary report for July was discussed at city council’s Aug. 25 meeting.

The department responded to seven wildland interface fires during the month, and also attended to six incidences of illegal municipal burning.

Fire Chief Rob Girard also said residents should be careful not to leave barbecues unattended.