Kelowna firefighters respond to grass fire

Kelowna firefighters battled a grass fire this morning that quickly grew to roughly 100 by 200 feet before it was doused.

The Kelowna Fire Department received multiple 9-1-1 calls this morning, at roughly 11:15 a.m. reporting a grass fire near Dry Valley Road and Highway 97, according to a press release issued by the fire department.

Arriving firefighters reported a grass fire along the embankment next to the highway approximately 400 metres north of Dry Valley Road. The fire was classed as rank one, a smoldering ground fire that was being driven by the wind.

It grew to 100 by 200 feet in size before it was brought under control and extinguished.

The cause is undetermined, but most likely from discarded smoking material, according to the platoon captain John Kelly, in a press release issued by the department. 

One of the south bound lanes of the highway was closed during operations but has since reopened.

"We would like to remind everyone that as the ground quickly starts to dry out, please dispose of smoking material responsibly and in an appropriate container," Kelly said.

The fire department responded with three engines, a bush truck, water tender, command unit and 14 personnel.

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