Fire hazard debris burning today in Central Okanagan

CENTRAL OKANAGAN – With good air quality and venting conditions today, Feb. 22, the Regional District of Central Okanagan advises controlled burns are underway in two regional parks. 

Open burning is allowed today for those eligible Central Okanagan property owners with permits from their local fire authority.

The first is in the southern portion of Glen Canyon Regional Park in West Kelowna to dispose of fire hazard debris collected as part of a large fuel modification project on just over 15 hectares between the trail entrances at Hebert and Brown Roads and Westbank Centre Park, south to the Gellatly Road parking area.

Crews are also burning collected wood debris just outside Peachland in Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park south of the Okanagan Connector (Highway 97-C). Several hundred piles are located along a 2.5 kilometer section of the park and were collected in the clean-up following the 2012 Trepanier wildfire.

Today’s burning has been authorized with appropriate permits from West Kelowna Fire Rescue and other authorities for fire fuel hazard reduction. All local fire departments and local media have been advised of today’s activity in the parks and will be notified when further burning takes place.

As well, through the winter and spring collected debris will be burned as part of a multi-year B.C. Wildfire Service fire hazard mitigation program on a ten-hectare section of Rose Valley Regional Park off Pettman and Bowes Roads.

Please be aware that trails through these various work areas may be temporarily closed. Park users are asked to watch for signs advising that trails are closed and that they stay out of any closed areas of the park.