Small brush fire near Oliver believed to be lightning-caused

Photo: Oliver Fire Department

Oliver fire crews on scene at a small grass fire Wednesday.

UPDATE: 1:55 p.m. 

The Oliver Fire Department has successfully doused a small grass fire north of Oliver Wednesday. 

Media relations officer Rob Graham said the team received a call around 12:30 pm. about the fire near Secrest Hill Road in steep terrain that their vehicles could not access.

"We arrived on scene and were able to get some of our members to gain access just by foot with some hand lines and portable water backpacks," Graham said. 

Just over an hour later they had completely mopped up the scene and were headed back to the station. Graham said the belief is that lightning started the fire, given the storm that blew through the South Okanagan Wednesday morning. 

But while recent rain, including this morning while firefighters were on site, has certainly been a help to fire crews, Graham cautions against the public relaxing about the risk of forest fires. 

"The weather has been kind of back and forth, but it is still pretty dry out there. The ground area is getting water but it’s not enough to saturate and keep everything wet," Graham explained. 

"We’re still at the beginning of fire season and it won’t take long if we keep getting sunny, warmer days that everything will be dry again. "

ORIGINAL: 1:40 p.m.

A small brush fire broke out Wednesday near Oliver which initial reports indicate was lightning-caused.

Crews responded to the location north of town and found steep terrain requiring members to hike in to access the small blaze. 

Castanet is awaiting more information from the Oliver Fire Department.

Photo: Oliver Fire Department