Video: Crews responding to fire in West Bench

The grass fire at the Penticton Indian Band is considered out, with a final size estimate of four hectares according to the Penticton Fire Department and no structures lost.

UPDATE: 5 p.m.

Paramedics attend to a fire crew member working at the grass fire on Penticton Indian Band land Friday afternoon.(Mark Brett/Western News)

The fire that broke out on the Penticton Indian Band Saturday is under control and firefighters remain on scene to finish extinguishing the blaze, which broke out in the field area on the side hill below the band’s administrative offices, spreading to the area between the Westhills Aggregate gravel pit and the Husula Highlands development.

The initial attack came from the PIB fire department, who were joined by the Penticton Fire Department, Naramata Fire, with the assistance of a B.C. Wildfire Service helicopter dropping water.

Peter Weeber, City of Penticton CAO, was on scene and says the crew have the fire under control and are in the mop-up stage, though he expects they will be putting out hot spots well into the evening.

The wind picked up just as crews got the fire under control, according to Weeber, who called the response a great interagency effort.

“It could have been a very serious fire,” said Weeber.

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UPDATE 3:40 p.m.

Crews continue to work on hot spots from a grass fire that started just before 3 p.m. on Penticton Indian Band land.

At this point, the fire looks relatively contained with no visible flame in the area.

Penticton Indian Band firefighters relax and cool off after working on the Friday wildfire. (Photo courtesy Peter Weeber)

A B.C. Forest Service helicopter is dropping water on the area while a piece of the band’s heavy equipment is pushing dirt.

It’s believed no structures were affected.

Penticton Fire and the RCMP are on site.

There are road closures in the area and the public is encouraged to stay away from the fire zone.

The band office is being used as a centre for emergency personnel to work from.

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UPDATE 3:30 p.m.

At least one helicopter is dropping water on the grass fire near West Bench Drive and Bartlett Drive near the gravel pits.

Some road closures are in place. The public is advised to avoid the area/

Heavy equipment pushing some dirt around

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UPDATE 3:25 p.m.

A helicopter has recently touched down at the site of the fire.

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ORIGINAL:

Fire crews are on their way to a massive grass fire on Penticton Indian Band land.

The call came in just before 3 p.m.

The fire is near the gravel pit and is estimated at two hectares in size.

Smoke from the fire is billowing west of the city.

The Penticton Western News will update with more information as it becomes available.