(UPDATE: 8 p.m.) – West Kelowna Fire Rescue, along with Peachland Fire Department, responded to a grass fire along Hwy 97 and the Okanagan Connector off-ramp at approximately 4:30 p.m. today.

When crews arrived, the fire was a rank 2 ground fire being pushed by the wind and beginning to climb into the ladder fuels.  

Crews were able to extinguish the fire front quickly, ensuring the fire remained inside the median between the highway and the off-ramp.  

They remained on scene afterwards to extinguish hot spots and cut a hand guard around the fire perimeter.

Investigators were on scene and have deemed the cause undetermined and not suspicious. 

This is a typical low lying valley fire for this time of year. 

With the long grasses from last year’s growing season, coupled with a few days of warmer weather drying out the finer fuels, we may start to see more fires like these in the valley bottom.

West Kelowna Fire Rescue would like to remind residents and visitors to properly extinguish their smoking materials while driving in their vehicles as many cigarette butts were found along the shoulder of Hwy 97.

(Original story: 5:45 p.m.) – Peachland Fire Department has confirmed they are responding to a grass fire at the corner of Highway 97 and the Okanagan Connector. 

According to Fire Cheif Dennis Craig, a utility, a brush truck and a tender vehicle from Peachland are on scene of a small fire on Drought Hill. 

Peachland Fire Department is attending the fire along with the West Kelowna Fire Department.

Chief Craig confirmed the grass fire was reported just before 5 p.m. and is not a controlled burn. 

Contact KelownaNow at 250-469-9626 with further information or email news@kelownanow.com.

NowMedia will update the story as more information becomes available…