Update: Some Containment On Monte Lake Fire

Update: 11:25 am

Crews have made some progress on the wildfire near Monte lake, west of Vernon.

Max Birkner from the BC Wildfire Service says the blaze which started Wednesday along Highway 97 on Martin Mountain, now has some containment.

“The fire is still at 150 hectares and it is 30 percent contained at the moment. Currently on scene we have 20 fire fighters and we do have more firefighters en route,” Birkner tells Kiss FM.

Birkner says three aircraft and heavy equipment are also working on the fire.

Highway 97 has reopened to singe lane alternating traffic.

58 homes remain on evacuation order with another 58 on alert.

The cause remains under investigation.

Earlier story by Tom Mark:

The wildfire at Monte Lake grew to 150 hectares overnight.

A local state of emergency was declared and 58 homes are on an evacuation order.

Another 58 remain on evacuation alert.

The Martin Mountain fire, as it is being called by the BC Wildfire Service, started a small spot fire but was whipped up quickly by strong winds last evening.

There have been postings on Facebook saying the fire began after someone threw a cigarette from a vehicle window.

That’s not been confirmed by fire investigators or the RCMP.

The fire is burning near some structures, but it’s not known if any have been affected.

Highway 97 is closed in both directions about two kilometres north of Monte Lake.