UPDATE: Firefighters tame Penticton grass fire

(UPDATE: Aug. 5 @ 2:38 pm) – Fire crews have the grass fire that broke out along Highway 97 under control.

The fire broke out shortly after noon on Tuesday along the Channel Parkway between the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and Green Mountain Road.

Below are some pictures from the scene.

(Original story: Aug. 5 @ 1:38 pm) – The Penticton Fire Department is responding to a grass fire that broke out along Highway 97 Tuesday afternoon.

Smoke from the fire became noticeable at about 12:30 pm off the Channel Parkway, adjacent to a water treatment facility.

Crews were quick to respond and were on the scene by about 12:50 pm.

They were followed by a wildfire fighting crew, which arrived about thirty minutes later.

PentictonNow reporter Gord Goble is on the scene and reports that there is heavy smoke and the winds were quite strong at the scene.

However, crews remain on the scene as they work to extinguish the fire.

The cause is not known at this time.

PentictonNow will update this story when more details are provided.