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Penticton  

Apex Mountain fire

11 p.m. Update:

The wildfire is burning west of Penticton near Apex Mountain. This wildfire is estimated at 35 hectares. Currently there are 27 fire fighters working to establish containment. Airtanker groups and helicopters worked late into the evening to slow the rate of spread. This fire is suspected to be person-caused.


UPDATE 7:50 P.M. 

The Apex Mountain fire is holding at 20-hectares while 27 ground crew, two helicopters and four air tankers continue to battle the blaze.

Steve Jackson and his friend Dino Giurissevick were on their way up Apex to go mountain biking when they noticed the smoke.

“We saw the fire and went to warn a friend of Dino’s who lives up there and then we started fighting the fire around 2 p.m.” says Jackson.

His group continued to throw water on the fire and fight it the best they could for almost an hour until forest fire crews got to them and asked them to leave the area.

They all remained at the Apex Mountain Guest Ranch for several hours while crews battled the blaze only a kilometer away. They were never evacuated.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation but is believed to be human caused.

As it stands there are no evacuation alerts or orders for this fire 


ORIGINAL:

A 20 hectare blaze, being battled near the Apex Mountain Guest Ranch, is aggressive and moving quickly.

Fire Information Officer Melissa Klassen says 27-ground crew are responding, as well as air support and water bombers.

“We have initial attack crews on site working to establish containment. We also have air tankers and two helicopters assisting ground crews in trying to slow the rate of spread of this fire,” says Klassen.

At this point the fire is believed to be human caused.

There are currently no evacuation alerts or orders in for this fire yet but the Apex Guest Ranch is located just one kilometre away from the fire and may need to be evacuated.

Send photos and video to [email protected]

 

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