Wildfire extinguished near winery in West Kelowna

WEST KELOWNA – A wildfire sparked by a burn barrel was doused by West Kelowna fire crews on Mount Boucherie near Elk Road last night.

The fire grew to about 200 by 200 metres in size and was only about 75 m from the Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, according to a West Kelowna Fire media release. Crews set up a fire guard around the perimeter and extinguished all hotspots.

“The cause of the fire was determined to be a smoldering burning barrel that was in use earlier in the evening” fire chief Jason Brolund says in the release.

The fire danger rating in West Kelowna is extreme.

With hot weather expected to continue and Brolund is urging the public to be cautious and to report signs of fire or smoke to 9-1-1.

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