Updated: Vernon grass fire 20% contained

Update (9 p.m.). . . The Tronson Road Fire is not as big as previously estimated and is now being slowly contained.

The most recent update from the Wildfire Protection Branch shows the fire at 36.3 hectares (90 acres) in size. The fire is now 20% contained.

Update (6:15 p.m.). . . The Tronson Road Fire has grown again. It is now at an estimated 60 hectares (148 acres) in size, according to BCWildfire.ca

Update (5:40 p.m.). . . A Vernon grass fire is increasing in size at a considerable rate.

An update on BCWildfire.ca now pegs the size of the Tronson Road Fire at 40 hectares (99 acres).

BCWildfire.ca is updated by the Wildfire Protection Branch of the Ministry of Forests.

“There’s some strong winds in the area,”said Kayla Pepper, fire information officer.

Pepper said there are now 22 ministry firefighters working the blaze and they are being supported by three helicopters and four air tankers.

The Vernon Morning Star is reporting that at one point the fire came close to homes but a bulldozer was able to build a guard between the fire and homes. The Star is also reporting that two homes have been evacuated.

Aerial View of Tronson Road Fire from a bird dog aircraft. (Photo: BC Forest Fire Info.)

Update (5:15 p.m.) . . . The Tronson Road fire, as the Ministry of Forests is now calling it, in Vernon has nearly doubled in size in the last hour.

The fire, which is located near Tronson Road and at the bottom of Turtle Mountain in Veron, is now 25 hectares (22 acres) in size, according to the ministry and is zero per cent contained.

The ministry reports that the fire is most active on its northern flank.

A total of 21 ministry firefighters are working with the Vernon Fire Department on the interface fire. They are being supported by two helicopters and four air tankers.

A grass fire broke out in Vernon Tuesday afternoon near The Rise development. (Photo: Chris Vandermolen)

Update (4:15 p.m.). . . The Ministry of Forests’ Wildfire Protection Branch is assisting the Vernon Fire Department on a grass fire that has grown considerably since first reported several hours ago.

The Tronson Road Fire is 15 hectares (37 acres) in size, according to Kayla Pepper, fire information officer.

Ministry personnel on scene include 15 firefighters and two officers. In addition, two helicopters are bucketing water on the fire and there are four air tankers working the blaze — two from Kamloops and two from Castlegar.

Pepper said she believe there are some structures nearby.

The red bubble shows the approximate location of a grass fire that broke out in Vernon Tuesday afternoon. (Google Maps)

by Dave Preston

An aggressive grass fire is being fought in Vernon.

Firefighters from Okanagan Landing and Vernon are at the scene of the fire on Turtle Mountain, near The Rise development.

The fire apparently began shortly before 3 p.m.

VernonMorningStar.com is reporting the fire is about one acre in size and an air tanker from the Ministry of Forests has been requested.

PeachlandNews.com will have more details as they become available.