UPDATE: Crews get handle on wildfire south of Penticton

PENTICTON – Crews appear to gaining the upper hand on a wildfire that broke out near Kaleden Junction this morning.

B.C. Wildfire, Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department personnel, RCMP and B.C. Ambulance were called to the scene of a wildfire just south of the junction of Lakehill Road and Highway 97 near Kaleden, six kilometres south of Penticton this morning, July 17.

The fire broke out just after 10 a.m. in a mix of grass and sparsely spaced trees on Penticton Indian Band land on the west side of the highway.

A helicopter was also on scene, water bucketing from Skaha Lake.

Traffic on Highway 97 is reduced to a single southbound lane as crews continue to establish a fireguard and extinguish hot spots.

No word yet on cause of the fire.

— This story was updated at 12:30 a.m. July 17, 2018 to provide additional details and photos of the wildfire.

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