Kalamalka Lake lookout fire generates rapid response

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: August 27, 2012 6:00 AM 

Andy King Photo

North Okanagan firefighters were again trying to ensure a blaze didn't get out of hand. Reports first started coming in about a grass fire at 10 a.m. Sunday between the Kalamalka Lake lookout and Kekuli Bay Provincial Park. "It was knocked down pretty quickly," said Kevin Skrepnek, an information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch. While the blaze was outside of any fire department jurisdictions, crews from Coldstream, Vernon and Lake Country responded, as did the Wildfire Management Branch. There was no formal evacuation of nearby homes but the RCMP did make residents aware of the situation. "Some people did leave but they were back in their homes before midnight," said Skrepnek. Crews remained on scene overnight to ensure the blaze didn't grow beyond half-a-hectare in size. "The cause is still under investigation," said Skrepnek, who is warning residents to be cautious with fire because of dry grass conditions. "The threat is still there as we go into the cooler temperatures."

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CHBC News : Monday, August 27, 2012 5:58 AM 

Photo Credit: Bob Gail , CHBC NEWS

Late-night blaze threatens homes south of VernonA large grassfire in  the north Okanagan late Sunday night threatened dozens of homes. The blaze broke out shortly after 10 p.m. on Sunday on a steep hill above Kalamalka Lake, just south of Vernon.  The flames spread quickly through the dry grass.The massive flames lit up the night sky. The fire threatened several homes in the Vernon suburb of Coldstream.  Fire crews had the flames out by midnight.An exact cause has not been determined.