Penticton Fire Department called to lake rescue, grass fire over the weekend

PENTICTON – Penticton firefighters responded to a lake rescue and grass fire on the weekend.

Deputy fire chief Chris Forster says they answered a marine rescue call around 1:50 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17. A couple of kayakers were reported in distress on Okanagan Lake near the SS Sicamous.

The firefighters, including the rescue boat, arrived on scene to find the kayakers had made it to shore and were being treated by emergency medical services.

Firefighters also responded to a grass fire on Government Street around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept.16. Forster says the call came in describing wildfire about six feet in size and growing.

“Upon arrival, we encountered a group of youths surrounding a burned out area, approximately eight feet by 10 feet, but the fire had been knocked down," he says.

Forster says the young people took off when the fire department arrived.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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