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Kalamalka Lake lookout fire generates rapid response

Blaze grew to half-a-hectare and led to some residents voluntarily evacuating
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Firefighters tackle a grass fire between the Kalamalka Lake lookout and Kekuli Bay Provincial Park Sunday night.


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 p.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, Okanagan Landing 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.

There has been some speculation that the fire may have been related to railway activity in the area,

"It wasn't far from the rail tracks but 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."