Brush Fire Burning Off Highway 33 in Kelowna

UPDATE (4:00pm): Highway 33 is closed 12.5 kilometres south of the junction with Highway 97 because of the grass fire. Motorists are allowed to exit from the area of the fire, but RCMP are not allowing vehicles into the area.

Updates on the current evacuation can be found here.

UPDATE (3:40pm): RCMP are helping emergency crews at the scene of the grass fire and are requesting that motorists avoid the area. Traffic along Highway 33 East in the 5900 block is being greatly affected as crews are on scene.

Motorists are asked to find an alternate route until further notice. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Smoke billowing from the fire in Joe Rich (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)

A grass fire has been sparked along Highway 33 near the Heartland Ranch, and the BC Wildfire Management Branch has been called in to help.

According to Kelowna Deputy Fire Chief Lou Wilde, the call came in to the Joe Rich Fire Department at 2:38 p.m. and it is located east of the ranch. The one hectare blaze is considered a Rank 2, which means it is currently a ground fire and has not gotten into the trees.

The BC Wildfire Management Branch is sending land and air support to help assist firefighters and RCMP are on scene directing traffic. KelownaNow has a reporter heading to the scene and we will have more information as it becomes available.

According to Kayla Pepper with the Wildfire Management Branch, a helicopter from Penticton will be sending three people to assist the Joe Rich fire department, and an air tanker group consisting of five pieces of equipment will also be providing support.