The Regional District of Central Okanagan advises that controlled burns are underway today (Friday, March 21, 2014) in two regional parks.

This is to dispose of fire hazard debris collected as part of large fuel modification projects underway within a 21-hectare section of Scenic Canyon Regional Park and an interface area in the north end of Rose Valley Regional Park.

With appropriate Open burning permits for fire fuel hazard reduction and a custom venting forecast from the BC Wildfire Management Branch which predicts good venting conditions at the sites, piles of pine beetle infested and other fire hazard wood debris are being burned today in these regional parks even though open burning is not allowed today in the Central Okanagan.

Further controlled burns will likely be required to dispose of fire hazard debris collected in fuel modification projects in these parks and as well as in a portion of Glen Canyon Regional Park off Brown Road in West Kelowna.

All local fire departments and local media have been advised of today’s activity in the park and will be notified when further burning takes place.