Wildfire near Peachland considered out-of-control, main route through south Okanagan closed

A new wildfire that flared up this morning just outside Peachland, west of Highway 97, has closed the main route through the south Okanagan until further notice.

The BC Wildfire Service says the fire is considered out-of-control and a 10 person crew, backed by Peachland firefighters, is aggressively attacking the flames, which have charred less than a hectare and are not threatening any homes.

The blaze comes as Natural Resources Canada forest ecologist Yan Boulanger says a heat wave across much of Western Canada has pushed the wildfire risk to what he calls ``extremely extreme.''

Another wildfire scientist agrees, but Mike Flannigan adds the hot weather has put a lid on lightning storms -- and that may actually help the situation in the short term.