Times-Chronicle Staff
A spark from a tractor mower is the suspected cause of yesterday’s brush fire north of Osoyoos.
The fire behind a home on Fruitvale Way off Highway 97 grew to approximately one hectare in size. It had the potential of racing up the hillside, but the Oliver Fire Department stopped it at the base.
Media relations officer Rob Graham said they initially considered calling air support but that wasn’t necessary once crews flanked the fire on all sides.
“We had a bunch of forestry hose and surrounded it to prevent it from spreading.”
Graham said the property owner was nice enough to cut the fence to allow access to the fire, which came to within 100 feet of the home.
BC Forestry crews took over to put out the hot spots.
Graham said local officials are quite confident that the fire was caused by a spark from a tractor mower that someone was operating on the property. Sparks occur when a mower blade strikes a rock or metal object.
“It can happen,” he stated, noting that 15 years ago a big fire on McKinney Mountain was caused by a spark from a tractor mower.
