Boucherie fire contained

UPDATE 2:45 P.M. - The Mt. Boucherie Interface Fire is now 100% guarded around the entire fire perimeter. The fire has been determined to be human caused, as natural causes have been ruled out.

The priority for this afternoon and evening is to lay a hose from the bottom of the mountain to the top to allow firefighters to attack hot spots that are active along the south side of the fire.

West Kelowna Fire Rescue has 13 firefighters currently working. BC Wildfire Management continue to support West Kelowna Fire Rescue with nine firefighters today.

Two tree fallers are working to remove danger trees ahead of firefighters before they attack the remaining hot spots within the fire perimeter.

The Emergency Operations Centre and West Kelowna Fire Rescue are thankful for the support of BC Ambulance. Due to extreme heat and difficult terrain, paramedics are at the scene of the fire to provide pre and post medical screening of fire and emergency personnel.

Depending on the weather and fire behaviour, crews will action the fire until nightfall and then scale back to a small patrol crew overnight.

Residents may see hot spots burning within the fire perimeter on Mt. Boucherie, particularly when it gets dark.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Fire officials with West Kelowna Fire Rescue believe Tuesday's wildfire on Mount Boucherie was likely human caused.

Assistant fire chief, Darren Lee, says an area of origin has been determined.

He says investigators are focusing on that area.

"Right now they are leaning towards human caused, but as the how or why, I can't tell you," says Lee.

"It's the one they identified yesterday. It is safe to say the area we think is off a walking path."

The fire, which started around 3 p.m. Tuesday, grew to about 4.2 hectares in size.

Crews are in the mop-up stages and continue to put out hot spots.

Meantime, due to hazards caused by the fire, Mt. Boucherie Park is closed indefinitely.

District of West Kelowna’s Parks Department has posted closure signs at all trail heads of the park.

Hazards in the wildfire affected areas of the park are:

• Falling trees and branches
• Falling rock and unstable slopes
• Wind born debris
• Burnt tree root holes, stumps and other tripping hazards
• Sudden water torrents in the event of any rain, which is in the weekend forecast

Once emergency crews have completed the mop-up stage of the interface fire response, District staff will further evaluate the state of the park and determine what mitigation measures will be required and how long it will take to make the area safe again for public use.

Eain Lamont Park, on the east side of Mount Boucherie, remains open as it was unaffected by the fire, which burned primarily on the south and southwest side of the mountain.

Select trails on the north and east side, leading to the top of the mountain, also remain open.