Officials warn South Okanagan high school grads to not hold bush parties

Officials are urging South Okanagan high school students not to take part in an annual graduation event known as the Sunset Party.

Penticton RCMP issued a join statement today, June 16, with the Penticton Fire Department, Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and School District 67 asking students to not participate in the unsanctioned event due to wildfire concerns.

“This year, due to exceptionally dry conditions increasing the risk of severe fires, authorities are striving to raise awareness among students about the potential hazards of such gatherings,” Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. James Grandy said in the media release.

The party is usually enjoyed by numerous students every year at the end of the school year, according to the statement. Students from multiple schools gather in a clearing in the forest and a bonfire is usually the “core activity." The parties tend to happen in remote areas on Carmi Road in Penticton and areas beyond Faulder near Summerland where cell phone service is patchy.

“We aim to enlighten students who may wish to participate in these types of events about the associated dangers," Cpl. Grandy said. "Parents and guardians need to understand these are unauthorized activities. Students who overlook these risks could be hit with hefty fines.”

“School District 67 has explicitly stated that it does not endorse the Sunset Party event and is actively discouraging participation in the interest of student safety,” the statement said. “The district stresses that these unsanctioned gatherings pose significant risks, and are neither part of the school's activities nor within the framework of its responsibility.”

In addition to students being urged not to go, parents are also urged to prevent their kids from going.

“By engaging in frank conversations about the dangers and potential legal consequences of participating, parents can significantly contribute to mitigating these unnecessary risks," reads the statement.

The City of Penticton rescinded a campfire ban earlier today, citing improved conditions and favourable weather. B.C. Wildfire Service has also rescinded the ban on campfires in the region that includes Penticton.

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