Colton Davies

UPDATE: 11:42 a.m.

Scorched ground is what remains after a grass fire burned five hectares near Mission Hill Winery in West Kelowna Saturday night and into Sunday morning.

The blaze is being treated as suspicious and is now under investigation.

Castanet will provide more information as soon as it becomes available.

UPDATE: 8:15 a.m.

Castanet's Wayne Moore reports from Mount Boucherie that "looking up towards Mission Hill Winery this morning, you would never know there was a fire there last night."

He says there was only one little wisp of smoke visible as of 8 a.m.

UPDATE: 7 a.m.

Fire Chief Jason Brolund says the Boucherie fire was quiet overnight as firefighters continued suppression and mop-up activities.

The estimated size of the fire remains five hectares.

A fire guard now surrounds the perimeter of the fire.

Smoke and flame may still be visible, Brolund says, and crews from West Kelowna Fire Rescue and the BC Wildfire Service will be working today to put out hot spots within the fire area.

No structures were damaged and there were no injuries reported.

There are no longer any evacuation orders or alerts in place.

The investigation into the cause of the fire will be ongoing today, with fire investigators on scene this morning.

UPDATE: 6 a.m.

Fire crews are expected back on the fire line at Mount Boucherie this morning.

Crews monitored the blaze near Mission Hill Winery overnight, and evacuees were allowed home as of 11 p.m.

Castanet will provide an update from the scene as soon as possible.

UPDATE: 10:50 p.m.

West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund says evacuees from the Mission Hill fire can return to their homes at 11 p.m. tonight.

Brolund says crews have made good progress on the blaze, which is now guarded, and that firefighters will remain on scene overnight. No structures have been damaged, and no injuries have been reported.

Residents of Royal Gala Drive and Gala View Drive as well as staff at Mission Hill Winery can return once firefighters have wrapped up in their neighbourhood for the night.

There are 50 personnel on scene from West Kelowna Fire Rescue, Peachland Fire Rescue, Kelowna Fire Department, BC Wildfire Service, RCMP, WFN Law Enforcement and BC Ambulance Service.

Air support from the BC Wildfire Service was requested, but was turned away after it was determined that ground crews were making good progress.

The fire remains at an estimated five hectares in size and is not spreading at this time, although Brolund advises active fire will be visible overnight.

The fire remains under investigation.

UPDATE: 10:20 p.m.

The Mission Hill wildfire remains out of control at this hour.

Fire activity has slowed considerably.

Crews are expected to remain on site overnight, monitoring the fire with assistance from the BC Wildfire Service.

UPDATE: 9:50 p.m.

The Mission Hill wildfire appears to be slowing down in intensity as firefighters work to get the upper hand.

West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund says it is approximately five hectares in size.

Castanet's Wayne Moore at the scene says three aircraft were at the fire, but left without dropping any water or retardant, likely due to fading light.

UPDATE: 8:55 p.m.

Mission Hill Winery has been evacuated due to a grassfire burning dangerously nearby, which has now been measured at five hectares.

Close to 50 homes on Gala View Drive and Royal Gala Drive have also been evacuated, which are within two blocks of the winery.

The fire started at about 7:15 p.m. at the base of Mount Boucherie, near Boucherie Road and Pritchard Drive, according to West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund.

"Tonight is one of those classic Okanagan evenings where we have wind blowing up the hill, and unfortunately in this case driving the fire towards the winery."

Brolund says fire crews are playing "catch and go" as they battle varying wind conditions, which have been blowing from the south since the fire began.

The fire is showing rank one to rank two fire behaviour, Brolund says, adding that wind has fanned the flames to jump ahead quickly.

Thirty firefighters from West Kelowna, Kelowna and Peachland are currently battling the blaze. Air support from Penticton has also been requested, but Brolund says it's not certain if that will be supplied due to dwindling daylight.

It's still not clear how large the fire is, nor what caused it.

- with files from Wayne Moore

UPDATE: 7:50 p.m.

Fire crews are reportedly evacuating homes near Mission Hill Winery due to a grassfire burning close by on Mount Boucherie.

The fire was first called in at about 7:15 p.m., and multiple witness reports indicate the fire has grown substantially since then.

One witness told Castanet that strong winds from the south that are pushing flames in the direction of Mission Hill Road.

There's no indication yet on the size of the fire, nor what caused it.

ORIGINAL: 7:25 p.m.

Castanet has received several reports of a grassfire burning in West Kelowna, below Mission Hill Winery.

Submitted photos show smoke visible around Mount Boucherie from both sides of Okanagan Lake.

Multiple fire crews have been dispatched to the area.

More information when it becomes available.