While still estimated at 380 hectares in size, BC Wildfire Services reported Friday afternoon that the Philpott Road Wildfire has now calmed to a ground fire.

"This morning the wildfire was sitting at a Rank 2 fire on a scale of six, which means it's mainly a ground fire,"said Chief Fire Information Officer, Kevin Skrepnek. "Certainly producing smoke but not a lot of open flame, but that will evolve as the weather changes throughout the day."

Photo Credit: Prime Light Media.

Howling winds Thursday afternoon caused the wildfire along Highway 33 to spread quickly, leading to the evacuation of 1,100 people from 474 homes in the Joe Rich area due to the fire.

Thus far, 264 people have registered at the Emergency Support Services reception centre at Willow Park Church in Rutland. 

At this time no homes or other buildings have been damaged.

Photo Credit: Prime Light Media.

"Crews are making progress on the fire, but the steep, heavily-forested terrain is making it difficult to get any containment around the blaze," added Skrepnek.  "There's still a lot of work to be done out there."

Photo Credit: KelownaNow.

If cellure reception permits, KelownaNow will be broadcasting the BC Wildfire Services' media scrum on Facebook Live from the scene of the Philpott Road Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.