UPDATE: Evacuees return home, highway fully open as wildfire near Vernon now 'held'

(UPDATE: Aug. 17 @ 11 pm) - The Boltres Creek wildfire is now held.

The final mapping update from the BC Wildfire Service pegged the fire at 103 hectares.

(UPDATE: Aug. 17 @ 6:35 pm) - An evacuation order issued this afternoon for the Boltres Creek wildfire near Vernon has been lifted.

Although the BC Wildfire Service still lists the blaze as out of control at 103 hectares, the City of Vernon says the fire is "stable and no longer showing growth."

Therefore, residents from the 20 affected properties on Commonage Road "are safe to return home," a City statement says.

The EOC reception centre at Kal Tire Place is now closed as well.

All lanes of Hwy 97 are now open, but motorists are advised that fire crews are still active in the area.

(UPDATE: Aug. 17 @ 5 pm) - The City of Vernon has issued an evacuation order due to the Boltres Creek wildfire.

The City says tactical evacuations are underway for around 20 properties on Commonage Road from Rose’s Pond to the Allan Brookes Nature Centre.

Residents are "asked to prepare to be away from their properties for an extended period of time," notes a statement from the City.

It urges people to "make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents."

The wildfire is still estimated at 40 hectares, displaying rank 2 and 3 behaviour, and is affecting southbound traffic on Hwy 97 due to a lane closure south of Vernon.

Emergency support is available at the EOC reception centre located at Kal Tire Place in Vernon.

Ground crews continue to battle the fire with aerial support from helicopters and air tankers, which are using Kalamalka Lake as a water source.

"We are asking the public and recreators to give these critical resources room to work," the BC Wildfire Service says. "People using watercraft should move quickly out of the way of skimmers to allow them the space they need to move safely."

(UPDATE: Aug. 17 @ 4:15 pm) - The Boltres Creek wildfire near Vernon has ballooned to 40 hectares.

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the blaze, which sparked alongside Hwy 97 between Vernon and Predator Ridge around 1 pm, is suspected to be human-caused.

Emergency crews have shut down the right southbound lane of the highway, which has traffic in that direction significantly backed up.

BCWS ground crews are being supported by a trio of helicopters and several air tankers, which are using Kalamalka Lake to refill. Local fire departments are on the scene as well.

The City of Vernon has activated its emergency operations centre in response to the wildfire.

No official evacuation orders or alerts have been issued, but RCMP personnel were seen knocking on doors in the Clarke Road area the Kalamalka lookout point.

(Original story: Aug. 17 @ 1:30 pm) - A grass fire has broken out west of Highway 97 near Vernon.

The fire started around 1 pm above Kalamalka Lakeview Dr.

The BC Wildfire Service is aware of the fire, which is estimated at less than a hectare.

Crews from the Vernon fire department are on scene responding to the fire.

The cause is not known at this time.