Crews hitting Vaseux Creek fire hard

Update: 9 p.m. Monday Fire crews are now mopping up the fire near Vaseux Creek, 9km north of Oliver. Ministry of Forests crews will monitor the fire overnight.

Fire fighters from Oliver and the B.C. Forest Service are on the scene of a brush fire about 9km north of Oliver.

Fire Information Officer, Jerry Wearing, says the fire started late Monday afternoon near Vaseux Creek.

It's about 10 to 12 hectares in size. It's a long and narrow kind of fire adjacent to Highway 97 burning grass and sagebrush primarily," says Wearing.

"The highway is down to one lane and RCMP are directing traffic."

Wearing says the fire is within the jurisdiction of the Oliver Fire Department, however, fire officials requested Forest Service assistance.

"We have provided three air tankers and a bird dog as well as three helicopters. We also have 19 forest service firefighters and equipment assisting the Oliver Fire Department."

He says a fire retardant guard is around most of the fire.

While the fire is not threatening any structures, Wearing says it is in the vicinity of a Fortis substation.

"Extra precautions are being taken to try and protect that structure."