The Kelowna Fire Department and Ministry of Forests are on the scene of a small forest fire near Layer Cake Mountain.

The fire started approximately 4 p.m. Monday afternoon after a lightning strike.

The Kelowna Fire department is building a perimeter and a three person provincial initial attack crew is on location.

Fire Information Officer, Kevin Skrepnek, says a tanker and recognisance aircraft are also on the scene.


Photo: Kelly Hayes
A plane gets ready to drop in the hills above Kelowna Monday afternoonThe tanker has made at least two retardant drops.

Skrepnek says the fire is considered a spot fire, meaning it is less than one hectare in size.

Meantime, Skrepnek says crews are monitoring the electrical storm which is making its way north through the valley.

He says about 100 lightning strikes have been recorded over the past hour. The first strikes were recording near the US border and, as of 5 p.m., strikes were being recorded in the Kelowna and Kamloops areas.

There is some good news however, as Skrepnek says more precipitation that expected has been falling throughout the storm area.