UPDATE: Wednesday, 12:40 p.m.
The fire that sparked on Tuesday near Salmon River Bench is now considered contained and no longer a threat of reigniting.
BC Wildfire crews made quick work on the Enderby Mabel Lake Road blaze which was contained Tuesday evening, but helping extinguish the blaze were some quick-thinking citizens and first responders.
Just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, the North Okanagan RCMP responded to the 2600 block of Enderby Mabel Lake Road for a report of a wildfire that was quickly spreading after a BC Hydro transformer allegedly blew, causing sparks to ignite the grass nearby.
“Residents in the area jumped into action and were instrumental in preventing the fire from rapidly spreading,” said RCMP spokesperson Const. Kelly Brett. “Multiple agencies responded, including the BC Wildfire Service who were able to contain and fully extinguish the fire.”
The North Okanagan RCMP want to thank the residents who acted quickly and without hesitation to assist in keeping the fire under control until first responders arrived. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
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UPDATE: 9:35 p.m.
According to those living near Enderby Mabel Lake Road the fire that started earlier in the day, after a tree fell on a power line, is now under control.
The blaze started approximately 20 km up Enderby Mabel Lake Road.
Some residents in the area are still reporting power and phone outages.
The second fire near Moffat Creek is now being called the Salmon River Bench fire and is lightning caused according to BC Wildfire.
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Two new wildfires sparked in the North Okanagan on Tuesday.
Both fires are an estimated .01 hectares in size and have an unknown suspected cause.
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BC Wildfire is reporting one blaze near Enderby Mabel Lake Road and the other at Moffat Creek.
There are reports a tree fell on a power line in the Mabel Lake area causing an outage and sparking the blaze.
More to come.