Firefighters have gained the upper hand in what started as an aggressive wildfire on Westside Road north of West Kelowna Wednesday afternoon.
The Cinnabar Creek wildfire ignited at around 3 p.m. The Wilson’s Landing Volunteer Fire Department received the initial call and immediately called for mutual aid from the BC Wildfire Service. The West Kelowna Fire Department and the North Westside Fire Department were also called in to help.
The wildfire is believed to be human caused.
The fire grew to just under three hectares before crews got the flames under control. It is now surrounded by a guard and isn’t expected to grow any further.
“Things are looking well,” said Dale Bojahra with the BC Wildfire Service.
WATCH BELOW: Blaine Gaffney interviews Dale Bojahra with the BC Wildfire Service for the latest on the Cinnabar Creek wildfire
“It was a fantastic group effort from ground crews, both wildfire and fire service, and of course air support from our air tanker program,” said Bojahra.
WATCH BELOW: Air tankers laying retardant to douse the Cinnabar Creek wildfire
An evacuation alert was issued by the Regional District of Central Okanagan for Camp Owaissi, Lake Okanagan Resort and Camp Mewata. But while the alert remains in place, it isn’t anticipated any evacuation orders will result from the fire.
Heavy wind whipped up the flames early on in the fire fight, but the wind has since died down.
WATCH BELOW: BC Wildfire Service and local fire departments fighting the flames from the ground.
Crews are continuing to douse hot spots and will work into the night to fully extinguish the fire.