Update: 5: 20 p.m.

It's unclear how a grass fire in Vernon's Okanagan Landing started, but crews have it under control. 

Vernon Fire Rescue Services Deputy Chief Brian Parsons said at the scene that the call came in as a small grass fire, but the winds picked up and the fire expanded and was rank three with flames up to five feet tall when crews arrived shortly after 4 p.m. March 21. 

"No structures were involved, however, it did come quite closely, as you can see, to the two outbuildings there," Parsons said, pointing to a shed and a chicken coop full of chickens on a property in the 6200 block of Okanagan Avenue. The fire came within several feet of these structures. 

Parsons said heavy winds fanned the flames into the tall grass in the empty lot surrounded by properties and the fire "ran quite a ways." The scorched patch in the lot spans a few hundred feet. Parsons said crews did "a great job knocking the fire down." Crews continued to hose down the large area after 5 p.m.

Parsons said the cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but cautioned that conditions are "tinder dry."

"Even though we're coming out of winter, we're still in a drought season and fires like this can take off really quickly," he said. 

Original: 

Vernon Fire Rescue Services are on-scene following multiple reports of a grass fire in Okanagan Landing.

The fire was reported in the 6200 block of Okanagan Avenue shortly after 4 p.m. Friday, March 21. 

There is plenty of smoke in the air, and firefighters are hosing down flames that were nearing some structures and heavy duty equipment on site.

It's estimated the fire has burned a few hundred feet across the property.

"The fire basically scorched an empty, grassy lot that was directly behind a property on Okanagan Avenue," said Vernon Morning Star reporter Brendan Shykora from the scene. "It's actually in the middle of several properties. I can see it came onto the Okanagan Avenue property. Another few feet and it would have burned down a shed and what appears to be a chicken coop."

The chickens are reportedly safe.

Vernon RCMP have been called to attend the scene.