A wildfire near Juniper Bay in Kalamalka Provincial Park near Vernon was quickly put out with the help of neighbours. A 24-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the fire. Flickr/Ryan Van Veen

Arrest made following wildfire in Kalamalka Park near Vernon

VERNON – RCMP have a man in custody after a fire broke out in Kalamalka Provincial Park last night.

Crews from the Coldstream Fire Department and B.C. Wildfire Management were called to the blaze near Juniper Bay at around 9:25 a.m., June 12, according to a RCMP media release.

“Witnesses saw the fire and attempted to put it out using hoses and a pump from a nearby residence,” RCMP media spokesperson Gord Molendyk says in the release.

Molendyk says the flames were about 20 feet high at one point, and covered a 60 by 20 foot area before the blaze was extinguished.

Firefighters spotted a man in the area of the fire and held him until police arrived.

Justin Rees, 24, was scheduled to appear in court Monday, June 15 charged with arson.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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Howard Alexander

Assistant Editor Howard Alexander comes to iNFOnews.ca from the broadcasting side of the media business.

Howard has been a reporter, news anchor, talk show host and news director, first in Saskatchewan and then the Okanagan.

He moved his family to Vernon in the 90s and is proud to call the Okanagan home.

If you have an event to share contact Howard at 250-309-5343or email halexander@infonews.ca.

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