UPDATE: New wildfire burning southwest of Penticton; evacuation alerts issued

The Hedges Butte wildfire was discovered 12 kilometres southwest of Penticton today, Sept 3.

The B.C. Wildfire Service estimates it to be 50 hectares in size and has classified it as out of control.

Responding to the fire are 16 personnel responding on the ground with more en route, as well as multiple air tankers, six helicopters and members of the local fire department.

No structures are currently threatened, though the fire will be highly visible for those in the surrounding area, the wildfire service said

READ MORE: Expect more smoke from Skaha Creek wildfire near Penticton

The Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen emergency operations centre has issued an evacuation alert for 47 properties southwest of the community of Farleigh Lake.

Evacuation orders my be issued, the emergency operations centre said in a media release issued this evening.

For more on the alert and updates go to the regional district website here.

— This story was updated at 5:35 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3 with an update from the emergency operations centre.

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