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West Kelowna  

Wildfire sparks above Okanagan Connector

Wildfire above Hwy 97C

UPDATE 9:06 p.m.

The wildfire burning west of Peachland is approximately 0.2 hectares in size, says BC Wildfire Service.

BCWS says one crew member has arrived on scene and four more should be almost there. It says as of right now no people or structures are at risk.

The location of the fire has been updated, it's about 6.5 kilometres west of Peachland, and "highly visible from Highway 97C".


UPDATE 8:30 p.m.

The BC Wildfire Service has now placed the fire on its dashboard.

The fire is burning on the slopes of Lookout Mountain, south of Highway 97C and directly across from the Upper Trepanier neighbourhood.


UPDATE 8:08 p.m.

Crews are currently en route to the wildfire above Highway 97C.

BC Wildfire Services says it has five personnel from Penticton headed to the fire now. As no crews are yet on scene, it says information is limited.

BCWS say the estimated location of the fire is about five kilometres west of Peachland.

It says at this time no buildings or structures appear to be at risk.

Witnesses say the fire is burning on the side of a mountain south of Highway 97C. No BCWS aircraft are over the fire at this point.

The Kelowna regional fire dispatch centre said in a brief statement it has received "numerous" reports about the fire.

"We would like to thank the public for their diligence in reporting the fire," said Mike Walroth, assistant fire chief, Kelowna Fire Department.


ORIGINAL 7:46 p.m.

A wildfire appears to have broken out above the Okanagan Connector outside of West Kelowna.

Reports place the fire about four kilometres past the Trepanier Road exit up Highway 97C. It is burning to the south of the highway.

The fire was initially spotted about 20 minutes ago.

Castanet has reached out to BC Wildfire Services for more information.



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