UPDATE 3:00 p.m. Wednesday: According to the Central Okanagan Regional District the fire is now 100 per cent guarded. The fire has been deemed human caused, as natural causes have been ruled out.
UPDATE 10:30 Wednesday: West Kelowna fire officials say the blaze appears to be human caused. It started on a walking trail a quarter of the way up the mountain off of East Boundary Road. East Boundary Road remains closed as the mop up efforts continue. Mt. Boucherie Park is closed indefinitely.
UPDATE: The Mt. Boucherie Interface Fire is fully contained and approximately 30 per cent guarded. Fire crews will patrol the fire through the night.
Spot fires and flare ups will be more noticeable when it’s dark. The district of West Kelowna asks that the public avoid calling 9-1-1 to report these.
Motorists are also asked to avoid East Boundary Road until further notice.
UPDATE: Officials say the fire is contained but is not officially under control. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
WEST KELOWNA — There is a wildfire burning in West Kelowna, on the west side of Mt. Boucherie. Smoke can be seen from several points in Kelowna.
Trees are candling, and the forest service has at least one helicopter dropping buckets of water on the flames.
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However, the fire is not very aggressive and it’s mostly shrubs and tall grass on the west side of the mountain.
The West Kelowna Fire Department is attacking the fire from the ground. There is a communications tower in the area, which appears to be very close to the flames. No other structures are threatened.
A small fixed-wing aircraft loaded with fire retardant has begun to attack the fire. There are also two planes hovering over the area.
RCMP are asking motorists to be careful and refrain from stopping at the side of the road to look at the fire.
“Motorists along Highway 97 have been reportedly stopping to look at the fire and are putting themselves and other motorists at further risk. Police are asking all traffic to maintain a safe flow through the area and refrain from stopping roadside,” reads a statement from Kelowna RCMP.
East Boundary Road has been closed to all traffic between Daimler Road and Elk Road.
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