UPDATE: Highway 97 near Peachland re-opened as crews get the better of wildfire

The portion of Highway 97 two kilometres south of Peachland closed earlier as crews worked to get a  wildfire under control has re-opened to alternating traffic.

RCMP said in a press release that crews and equipment are continuing to work in the area.

"The fire is 0.3 hectares in size and currently burning out of control," Maddison Smith, a BC Wildfire Service fire information officer, said earlier today, June 28.

Smith said there are currently three air tankers dropping fire retardant on the fire, and once they are done they will be supported by helicopters bucketing water. Altogether there are 10 wildfire service personnel on site and they are being supported by local firefighters.

"No structures threatened at the moment," she said. "The cause is still under investigation."

RCMP have asked that the area be avoided while crews continue their work.

This is the second fire in three days that BC Wildfire has attended in Peachland. The first started as a house fire above Peachland and while one home was destroyed and it spread to nearby trees, crews managed to knock it down before more homes were lost.

For the latest on the highway's status go to DriveBC here.

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