Firefighters working three new wildfires in Central Okanagan

KELOWNA – Calls about a big plume of black smoke southeast of Kelowna has B.C. Wildfire responding today. It's one of three news fires spotted in the Central Okanagan.

Fire information officer Melissa Klassen says the 30 hectare fire, which was spotted this morning, Aug. 27, is burning in the Little White Mountain area about 25 kilometres southeast of the city.

Klassen says one initial attack crews is on its way in a helicopter and a bird dog aircraft is on its way to assess the fire and if there are any structures nearby.

“If visibility is good, we’ll send in air tankers,” she says.

No word yet what sparked the fire.

Meanwhile, there is a three ha fire burning about 5 kms west of Peachland. Klassen says it’s a smouldering ground fire with some flame and was detected this morning.

Three initial attack crews, including a rappel team, are battling the blaze. She says air tankers have laid a fire guard around 80 per cent of the fire.

The cause is under investigation.

A B.C. Wildfire crew is also on the scene of a spot-sized forest about 5 km up the Gillard Forest Service Road south of Kelowna.

It was spotted this morning and is believed to be human-caused, Klassen says.

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