UPDATE: Fire burning at Penticton landfill now under control

The fire sparked in the Campbell Mountain landfill metal recycling pile is now under control.

Area residents say the fire began sometime after noon today, May 30, and it's burning through a metal pile.

Rob Trupp, Penticton's assistant fire chief, said the landfill staff acted fast, using loaders to block the fire from extending beyond its perimeter.

Then fire crews came in with the water. They had to bring in three tenders to douse keep the fire engine's bladder full, as the closest hose line was in Naramata.

It worked, and they cooled the fire down enough so they could excavate the pile, move the handlines in and try and douse the source. The fire was still burning but under control by day's end.

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