Grass fire sparked near highway; causes power outage

Fire crews were on the scene of a grass fire on Department of National Defence land across from Okanagan College around 2 p.m. Thursday.

Reports say a bird hit a power line causing sparks that ignited the grass below, just off Highway 97 near Clerke Road.

Some passing motorists used an extinguisher to douse the small blaze with help from the Coldstream Fire Department to make sure it was out.

“When Vernon Fire Rescue Services arrived, they found Coldstream Fire Department on scene, as the location of the fire was on the boundary between the two jurisdictions. A small grass fire (approx. 20×20’) had been put out, which took place on DND land,” said Christy Poirier, communications manager with the City of Vernon.