Crews are in the mop-up stage following a large grass fire that broke out overnight Monday off Highway 3 east of Osoyoos.
The blaze was 60 per cent contained by Tuesday morning and the B.C. Wildfire Service said it does not expect the smoldering ground fire to grow further.
The B.C. Wildfire Service estimates the size of the fire at 10 hectares.
The fire started east of Osoyoos in the area of Highway 3, prompting a full response from the Anarchist Mountain Fire Department, Osoyoos Fire Department and the B.C. Wildfire Service.
The fire broke out above some vineyards, below a hayfield.
A gulley separated the fire from nearby homes.
Brenda Dorosz manages a vineyard in the area. She said when she arrived at the vineyard overnight she saw the hillside fully engulfed with trees candling.
B.C. Wildfire Service said the grass fire came within 30 meters of the nearest vineyard.
The fire spread slowly thanks to low winds and was quickly brought under control.
There is no word yet on the cause. B.C. Wildfire Service said what sparked the blaze is being actively investigated.
More than 20 firefighters from Anarchist Mountain along with the Osoyoos Fire Department and Forest Ministry, put out the blaze.
– with files from Shelby Thom
Editor’s Note: this story has been updated with the latest information as of Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.