Crews battling a new fire north of the Okanagan Connector

UPDATE: 9:35 p.m.

BC Wildfire Service reports the Mount Miller wildfire burning in the Trepanier area is estimated to be just over one hectare in size.

They had six personnel, and three helicopters assisted by air tanks assigned to this blaze.

BCWS says air support and helicopters will continue to monitor the blaze on Friday.

UPDATE 5:40 p.m.

A steady stream of air tankers and helicopters, dropping water and retardant, appears to have made a significant dent in the Mount Miller Wildfire above Trepanier Road.

The fire has been reduced to a smouldering ground fire.

Ground crews are in the area and working to get to the fire on foot.

UPDATE 5 p.m.

Helicopters and air tankers have been hitting the fire hard from the sky.

The fire is burning on steep slopes, high above Trepanier Road and Highway 97C.

Growth has been minor over the past hour.

ORIGINAL 4 p.m.

The BC Wildfire Service has been called in to fight a new wildfire burning in the Trepanier area.

Known as the Mount Miller Wildfire, this latest blaze is sending large plumes of white smoke high above the ridge to the northeast of Trepanier.

Charlene Mortensen with the BC Wildfire Service in Kamloops says the fire broke out about an hour ago. It is estimated at two hectares in size.

"It's currently burning four kilometres west of West Kelowna and about two-and-a-half kilometres north of the Okanagan Connector," she says.

Six provincial firefighters, two helicopters and an air tanker are working the fire.

More resources are apparently en route.

Photo: BCWS