Fire crews on Silver Ridge Road above Vernon's Foothills neighbourhood where fire broke out in wooded area. (Liam Verster / Vernon Matters photo)

By Pete McIntyre & Liam Verster

Above Foothills

UPDATE: Crews douse wildfire in Vernon area

May 18, 2023 | 1:07 PM

UPDATE: 2 p.m.

A wildfire above the Foothills community off Silver Star Road in Vernon is now out.

BX/Swan Lake Fire Chief Bill Wacey said a 20 x 40-metre patch near Silver Ridge Drive was on fire when they arrived.

“It was underneath some pine trees with a huge pile of pine cones and needles, so it certainly had some big potential for something to go off if the wind had been stronger,” Wacey told Vernon Matters and other media.

Wacey said the cause is under investigation by Vernon Fire Rescue Services.

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“It’s a fairly popular hiking trail so there is lots of people coming and going all the time, which we always encourage because more eyes on the ground is certainly better for everyone.”

Wacey said they put in a call for the BC Wildfire Service for helicopter service if needed, but it wasn’t.

“We actioned it and put it out. It was close, but we managed to sustain it,” Wacey remarked.

He said the fire was about 800 feet up a steep hill.

“That’s a long way for an old guy like me,” Wacey quipped to the media, adding the blaze took about 20 minutes to put out.

The veteran fire chief added his crews were at another call on East Vernon Road when a report came in of smoke coming from above the Foothills area which is close to the boundary between BX/Swan Lake and Vernon fire protection.

About 12 BX/Swan Lake firefighters responded along with others from Vernon.

UPDATE:

It appears a wildfire above the Foothills neighbourhood in Vernon is under control.

Vernon Matters reporter Liam Verster says there is no longer signs of smoke coming from the site, but crews from Vernon and BX/Swan Lake remain on the scene which is on a hill in a wooded area.

Verster says the fire site is about 500 meters from the nearest homes.

(Photo credit: Paul Cousins)

UPDATE:

The fire is in the area of Sun Peaks Drive and Silver Ridge Road, above the Foothills neighbourhood in Vernon.

Smoke as seen by resident on Silver Ridge Road (submitted photo)

==

The BX-Swan Lake Fire Department is responding to a wildfire in the 7000 block of Silver Star Road in the Foothills area.

The initial call came in at about 12: 50 p.m. Thursday as a report of smoke in area of the knoll.

The fire department has a call out to any available members to respond and may call in the BC Wildfire Service, if necessary.

The fire may be in the City of Vernon’s jurisdiction.

Vernon Matters has a reporter en route to the scene and will provide updates.