UPDATE: BC Wildfire crews pull back from Lake Country fire

(UPDATE: August 12th @ 7:03 p.m.)

An on site reporter for KelownaNow said the fire appears to be under control for the most part.

"Firefighters were dousing it with water and we were quite close and didn't see much smoke," said a KelownaNow staff reporter.

Facebook users are also reporting that the fire is mostly out and firefighters appear to be performing mop-up activities.

The fire burned fast and furious, leaving behind a blackened landscape.

Fire crews responded quickly and now BC Wildfire Service is reporting their crews are starting to leave the scene.

One of the two crews and both helicopters have left and one BC Wildfire Service crew is still assisting the Lake Country Fire Department but is expected to finish by Saturday evening.

According to a motorist, driving from Vernon to Kelowna, traffic was rerouted down into Lake Country and back up near the kangaroo farm with barely a disruption.

(Original Story: August 12th @ 6:00 p.m.)

BC Wildfire Service is reporting a wildfire that broke out in Lake Country on the evening of Saturday, August 12th.

The wildfire is within the Lake Country Fire Department jurisdiction and BC Wildfire is assisting with the firefighting efforts.

The fire is located close to the intersection of Hwy 97 and Lodge Road and highly visible from Highway 97.

Currently there are two crews on site and two helicopters fighting the fire.

Just saw big fire start in Lake Country, right on HWY 97.

Steer clear! #lakecountry #okanagan pic.twitter.com/lYlOQUQyWZ

— Startup Vernon (@startupvernon) August 13, 2017

Our view of the #lakecountry fire about 30 minutes ago. Looks like crews were getting it under control. Scary pic.twitter.com/4BcDNy3tpS

— Daryl Pereira (@daryl_pereira) August 13, 2017

#lakecountry interface fire closes hwy 97 pic.twitter.com/pyurt2bheB

— Ktruman (@KimberleyTruman) August 13, 2017