A downed power line sparked a wildfire in the Northern Okanagan community of Armstrong on Sunday night, forcing the evacuation of several nearby homes.
The two-hectare fire broke out in the Grandview Flats area, located about 15 kilometres north of Vernon. Four provincial fire fighters were called in to assist the local volunteer fire department.
"We had a big windstorm come through, which caused debris to land in the power lines," Deputy Chief Fire Inspector Alastair Crick said. "The lines dropped down into some tress, into the canopy, starting the forest fire."
Three or four homes were situated right on the edge of the fire, with several others located within a few hundred feet.
"We evacuated about nine homes. In some other homes the residents refused to evacuate," Crick said.
The evacuation order was rescinded around midnight due to favourable weather conditions. The fire was completely under control by Monday morning, with a few fire fighters performing mop up.
A week earlier, a massive fire at the local Tolko sawmill forced the evacuation of nearly 250 people from their homes.
The evacuation order for residents of the Palisades, Belva, Eagle Rock, Meadow Ridge and Twin Firs mobile home parks was downgraded to an evacuation alert the following day.
