UPDATE: 8 p.m.
Fire crews responded to a blaze below Mt. Baldy Drive just after 5 p.m., Sunday.
The rank two wildfire, considered to be a surface blaze with visible and open flame, was burning on a steep slope and was approximately 30 feet by 30 feet in size.
According to platoon captain Scott Clark, crews had an issue accessing the blaze, a fire guard was cut to contain the flames until water could be brought to the scene.
The fire was quickly knocked down.
“The fire appears to have started in a camp for people experiencing homelessness. There were no injuries to the public or firefighters,” said Clark.
The Kelowna Fire Department responded with four engines, two bush trucks an ATV and a command unit including 20 firefighters. RCMP, BC Ambulance and the City of Kelowna Bylaw attended as well.
Campfires are not permitted within the city limits.
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A large plume of smoke is rising in the area behind McCurdy Place, below Dilworth Mountain.
Witnesses spotted smoke and flames at about 5:15 p.m.
Emergency crews are on scene.
It’s unclear if any structures are threatened or how the blaze started.
Breaking – a fire has been spotted in the trees between McCurdy Place and Mount Baldy Drive in #Kelowna @KelownaCapNews @BlackPressMedia video: contributed pic.twitter.com/Y27u0YHZLU
— Jordy Cunningham (@CunninghamJordy) May 15, 2023
More to come.
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@cunninghamjordy
jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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