'Numerous' homes burned after grass fire breaks out in B.C.'s Lake Country

Fire crews in B.C.'s Lake Country have made progress on a grass fire about 30 kilometres north of Kelowna.

• Check theCentralOkanaganEmergency Operationswebsitefor updates

Officials said more than 300 homes were evacuated Saturday night as fire crews battled the rapidly spreading fire, which broke out around 4:30 p.m. PT.

Thefire was last estimated at30 hectares in size and around 50 per cent contained, although crews are still fighting active fires within the area.

"The fire started as a small grass fire around a rural area," said Lake Country Fire Chief Steve Windsor.

"It's a big area. We're still trying to save some homes that are in jeopardy."

Windsorconfirmed "numerous homes" had been lost.

The blaze is within the jurisdiction of the local fire department, but provincial crews are assisting and the wildfire service has also provided a helicopterand 11 planes. Nearby municipal firefighters have also been called in.

An emergency centre for evacuees has opened up at Kelowna's Salvation Army church.

Officials are asking people to avoid Okanagan Centre Road West, Tyndall Road, Camp Roadand the Long Road area while crews work on the fire.