UPDATE: 12:44 p.m.
It took about 90 minutes for the Keremeos fire department to extinguish a suspicious blaze on Upper Bench Road.
Fire chief Jordy Bosscha said fence posts and other pieces were set on fire by someone other than the ranch owner.
“He used these when needed. I’m not sure who set the fire, whether it was campers that were there,” explained Bosscha. “It’s very suspicious.”
The RCMP did attend the fire and are investigating.
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Members of the Keremeos Volunteer Fire Department are fighting a “suspicious” fire Wednesday morning on a property on Upper Bench Road.
Jordy Bosscha, chief of the department, spoke briefly with the Review as firefighters worked to put out a pile of fence posts that were someone set on fire.
Bosscha said although the pile was creating a lot of smoke, there was no risk to structures.
He said the fire was suspicious in nature.
Residents are reminded to stay out of the area as firefighters work.
Currently there is a ban on any fires larger than a campfire (half metre by half metre in size) in the Kamloops Fire Centre, which includes the Similkameen. The prohibition remains in effect until Oct. 15.
The fine for having a larger fire is up to $1,150.
The Review will update this story when more information comes available.