UPDATE: Joe Rich forest fire contained

KELOWNA – Fire crews have a handle on the forest fire burning in Joe Rich since Sunday afternoon.

The fire, in the 8000-block of Sun Valley Road off Highway 33 east, is 100 per cent surrounded by a hose lay, according to B.C. Wildfire Management’s Kelsey Winter.

“The fire is 6.2 hectare in size… there is a hand guard around 25 per cent of the fire,” Winter says. “Crews are hoping to complete the hand guard today (Monday).”

On Sunday afternoon, a tanker group hit the blaze hard.

Twelve firefighters from the Joe Rich Fire Department continue to work the fire along with 16 firefighters from B.C. Wildfire Management.

Winter says no structures are threatened by the blaze.

Crews have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire, but it is believed to be human-caused.

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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.