Photo: Megan Ohm

UPDATE: 5:45 a.m.

The Kelowna Fire Department says the cause of a barn fire on Hartman Road in Rutland is not yet known

Investigators will return to the scene today.

Platoon Capt. Dennis Miller says in a press release that crews responded to the blaze at 7:46 p.m. and found flames coming from the barn as well as two other outbuildings.

The barn is a complete loss, with damage to the other structures.

Water had to be shuttled to the property by water tenders, as fire hydrants were not close enough to fight the fire.

A total of three fire engines, one rescue vehicle, a water tender, command vehicle and a safety officer responded to the incident, with assistance from B.C. Ambulance paramedics, RCMP and Fortis crews.

UPDATE: 8:23 p.m.

Witness Kaleigh Allan tells Castanet firefighters seem to be bringing the blaze under control. Police are directing traffic away from the area. 

"At first, it looked like a yard waste burn, but then the smoke turned black and we could see the flames. They looked to be really high, like as tall as the house beside the fire," said Allen.

"The water truck had to fill up at the bottom of the hill and then they seemed to get it under control pretty quick."

ORIGINAL

Emergency crews are on the scene of a fire in the Rutland area of Kelowna.

Details are sketchy, but witnesses told Castanet the large blaze is on the 800 block of Hartman Road.

Unconfirmed reports say a barn is fully involved and nearby structures are being threatened by the flames.

Castanet will have more information as soon as it become available.

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