By Tom Mark

Update On Winfield Fire Cause

Aug 13, 2017 | 2:30 PM

Update: 2:30 pm Sunday

The cause of a shed fire in Winfield that spread up a hillside on Saturday afternoon, is under investigation by RCMP.

“However it’s not the same as some of the other fires that have started recently. It started in a person’s back yard and we do have a suspected cause but we can’t release that yet because RCMP is involved,” says Brent Penner, deputy fire chief for Lake Country.

Penner says it started in a resident’s back yard, not along the highway.

Penner says there were quite a few explosions from the shed.

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“It had typical items you find in sheds like propane bottles, paint and things like that,” Penner tells Kiss FM.

Penner say the residence had some exterior melting, but the home itself is 100 percent intact.

Update 8:20 pm Saturday

Fire fighters in Lake Country were quick to jump on a small fire in Winfield Saturday evening in Winfield.

Lake Country Fire Chief Steve Windsor says the call came in as a structure fire at a home along Highway 97 south of Lodge Road.

A shed caught on fire and the flames spread up a hillside due to wind.

It was working its way westward into a line of home above.

The fire got to about to about two hectares and had actually spotted in a couple of areas just across the highway.

The fire department and RCMP conducted a tactical evacuation of some homes along Bottom Wood Lake Road and Newenes Road along with a couple of businesses.

Fire crews from Kelowna and Ellison came in to help along with six firefighters from the BC Wildfire service, which also sent two helicopters.

Chief Windsor says the helicopters were used for spotting.

Lake Country fire fighters were able to contain the blaze and were dealing with a few hot spots in the centre of the fire area.

The RCMP is investigating the start of the fire in the shed.

A home on Newenes Road did sustain some damage with the siding melting.

A vehicle was also damaged.

No one was injured.

RCMP closed Highway 97 from Oceola to Berry Road.
Update 7:30 PM

The Lake Country Fire department with assistance from the BC Wildfire service has gained control of a small fire that broke out near Highway 97 in Winfield.

Bucketing helicopters were used to help douse the flames and the fire is now in mop up stage.

The Wildfire service has now been called off the fire.

Highway 97 in the area was closed and a few businesses in the area were ordered evacuated.

Traffic was diverted along Bottom Wood lake Road.

Lake Country Fire fighters backed by fire fighters from the BC Wildfire Service are battling a small fire in Winfield.

The fire is 2 hectares in size and is burning just off Berry Road.

It’s not clear if any structures are in danger.

Highway 97 has been closed in the area.

More details when they are available.

Picture courtesy Marlene-Rae Anne

by Tom Mark