Central Okanagan

Photo: Contributed - William Farr Here is a photo of the fire just as it was beginning to ignite the forest.

Photo: Contributed - Google Maps

A grass fire by Highway 97 and Robinson Road has been brought under control thanks to a volunteer fire crew and Mother Nature.

A smoke plume could be seen for several kilometres, rising from the hills above Winfield after fire officials say a five-ton truck next to a mobile home ignited in flames and spread to existing debris and grass.

Fire crews were called out around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Traffic to Robinson Road was being controlled while firefighters worked on the blaze.

Lake Country assistant fire chief Brent Penner says either a faulty battery charger hooked up to the running truck or the exhaust manifold was likely the cause of the fire.

Although shorthanded, Penner says the volunteer crew quickly contained the fire to a smolder before it could spread up trees.

"Really, we didn't have any wind, so that helped."

Resident Lee Imeson says he discovered the fire upon returning from a trip to the dump.

Nobody was injured, but Imeson says torches, tools, and the vehicle were lost in the fire.

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