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(UPDATE: July 17 @ 7:30 pm) - The BC Wildfire Service says the Brent Road wildfire south of Peachland is now held.
That means the fire isn't expected to spread beyond its current perimeter based on current conditions.
Photo credit: BCWS
Firefighters attacking the blaze yesterday.
The fire, which sparked around 9:30 am, reached six hectares in size.
Hwy 97 remains limited to single-lane alternating traffic through the area.
(UPDATE: July 17 @ 2:50 pm) - The BC Wildfire Service says the Brent Road wildfire south of Peachland has grown to six hectares in size.
There have been over half a dozen water skimmers responding to the new fire over the course of the day, along with ground crews from the BCWS, Peachland Fire and Rescue Service and Summerland Fire Department.
Photo Credit: NowMedia
While the fire has grown, it has moved away from Hwy 97 and DriveBC says the road is now open to single-lane alternating traffic.
Motorists should expect significant delays in the area and are urged to follow the directions of all traffic control personnel in the area.
Kent Molgat has the latest on the new wildfire south of Peachland and the associated #BCHwy97 closure.#bcwildfire pic.twitter.com/dVUfvkFlqJ
— KelownaNow (@KelownaNow) July 17, 2024
(UPDATE: July 17 @ 12:15 pm) - The fire is now estimated at 1.3 hectares in size.
(UPDATE: July 17 @ 11:50 am) - The response to a new wildfire south of Peachland continues to grow.
The BC Wildfire Service currently has two initial attack crews, two response officers and a water tender assisting the Peachland and Summerland fire departments on the ground.
There are also several planes providing aerial support.
Photo Credit: BC Wildfire Service
According to the BCWS, the fire's latest estimated size is 0.75 hectares and it's believed to be human-caused.
"The fire is burning rank 1 with some rank 2, meaning a smouldering ground fire with some visible open flame," the BCWS says.
Hwy 97 remains closed in both directions due to the fire that started right beside the roadway.
It's expected to be closed for a while, as both DriveBC and AIMRoads say the next update won't come until 4 pm.
(UPDATE: July 17 @ 11 am) - A new wildfire that has shut down Hwy 97 south of Peachland has grown to 0.75 hectares.
That's the latest size estimate from the BC Wildfire Service, which is also now saying the fire is suspected to be human-caused.
Flight radar data shows that there are two planes, a skimmer and a birddog, along with a helicopter responding to the fire.
Hwy 97 remains closed in both directions as crews respond on the ground as well.
(UPDATE: July 17 @ 10:05 am) - Hwy 97 is now closed in both directions.
The closure is to accommodate the response to a new grass fire that sparked right beside the highway around 9:30 am.
The BC Wildfire Service says the fire is now 0.3 hectares in size and the Okanagan Fire Scanner Twitter/X account reports that it is spreading west up the hillside, away from town for now.
Local crews were the first on scene and a BCWS four-person initial attack crew is reportedly en route.
NowMedia will continue to update this story as information becomes available.
(Original story: July 17 @ 9:45 am) - Crews are responding to a grass fire near Peachland.
The fire sparked a short time ago alongside Hwy 97, just south of the Central Okanagan community.
The incident just popped up on the BC Wildfire Service map and is currently labelled as a spot-sized fire.
DriveBC says the fire near Brent Road is affecting traffic in both directions, but the highway remains open at this time.
📡 #BCHwy97 - Reports of a brush fire south of #PeachlandBC near Brent Rd that is affecting traffic in both directions. Crews are en route to assist. pic.twitter.com/EqXmD4PnpL
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) July 17, 2024
Local firefighters have reportedly just arrived at the scene and it’s unknown if the BCWS is assisting at this time.
NowMedia will update this story as more information becomes available.
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