UPDATE: 8 p.m.

The air tankers that spent Friday afternoon dropping retardant on the wildfire just south of Peachland have turned in for the evening, but two helicopters continue to bucket the blaze. 

Jody Lucius, fire information officer, says 23 BC Wildfire Service firefighters attended the fire, along with municipal firefighters from Peachland, Summerland, Kelowna, West Kelowna and Ellison.

Lucius did not know if crews had contained the blaze as of 8 p.m., but James Springer, assistant fire chief with the Peachland Fire Department, said the tankers had blanketed 65 per cent of the fire with retardant as of 6 p.m.

UPDATE: 6 p.m.

Assistant Peachland fire chief James Springer says a wildfire southwest of Peachland has grown to about three hectares in size, however, bombers have been able to blanket about 65 per cent of the fire with retardant.

He says winds, that were giving crews some issues earlier, have calmed down, giving firefighters a chance to get a better handle on things.

There is no increased risk to any structures in the area and no evacuations have been ordered.

Ground crews from the BC Wildfire Service have arrived, joining other crews from fire departments throughout the central and south Okanagan.

UPDATE 5:35 p.m.

Peachland assistant Fire Chief James Springer says the fire is burning in a heavily forested and steep area, just outside of their jurisdiction near the water treatment plant.

“Things are looking not too bad right now,” he said. “We are hitting it from the air, we are hitting it from the top of the hill with our structure crews and in the bottom in the bush with the forest service crews.”

The upper flank of the fire is burning near Princeton Ave., which has residential and commercial properties in the area, according to Springer.

Structural protection crews from Ellison, Kelowna, West Kelowna and Summerland are also helping out.

Springer was not able to offer an estimate of the size of the fire, only stating it was called in around 3:30 p.m. as a “100 by 100 and growing” fire.

No evacuations have taken place yet. However, Springer said the situation remains fluid and they will continue to monitor. 

UPDATE 5:15 p.m.

Princeton Ave. is closed to traffic just past Pierce Rd.

Police at the roadblock were not able to say if there have been any evacuations beyond that point, but a steady flow of air tankers have been attacking the fire.

The B.C. Wildfire Service hopes to have more information around 5:30 p.m.

UPDATE 4:30 p.m.

The Summerland, West Kelowna and Ellison Fire Departments are also on the way to the scene, in response to a request for mutual aid from Peachland.

ORIGINAL 4:15 p.m.

The BC Wildfire Service is en route to a wildfire south of Peachland.

The fire, on the Munro Lake Forest Service Road, is five-and-a-half kilometres southwest of Peachland.

Fire information officer Jody Lucius says the fire is on the border between the municipality and crown land.

Lucius says two crews have been dispatched, one arriving by air, the other by ground. Air tankers and two helicopters have also been sent to assist.

Peachland Fire Department crews are also on the scene.

The size of the fire is not known at this time.

Photo: BC WIldfire Service