VIDEO: Heavy winds a challenge as crews work to contain forest fire burning near Lumby

LUMBY – Emergency crews are battling a forest fire just north of Lumby. 

Lumby fire chief Tony Clayton said the fire on forested Crown land started sometime around 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, in the area of Cooper Mountain.

Members of the Lumby Fire Department, as well as crews from B.C. Wildfire, are tackling the blaze, Clayton said in an interview Tuesday night. 

Just before midnight, the North Okanagan Regional District issued an evacuation alert for homes on Cooper Road and Hurt Road.

Heavy smoke was making it difficult to get an accurate size estimate, but the fire was  pegged at around 25 hectares as of 8:45 p.m. Tuesday. 

Two air tankers were actioning the fire last night in an attempt to get it under control.

Clayton said the fire is roughly five kilometres north of Lumby, as the crow flies.

Heavy winds are challenging fire suppression efforts, Clayton said. 

Lumby firefighters also assisted the Coldstream Fire Department Tuesday evening with a fire at the Coldstream Ranch.

— This story was updated at 5:55 a.m. May 24, 2017 to add information about an evacuation alert. 

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