Smoke expected from Garnet Lake prescribed burn

PENTICTON – A prescribed burn is in the works for the Garnet Lake area prior to winter setting in.

Roughly 120 hectares around Garnet Lake, northwest of Summerland, will be affected by the burn, which is being conducted by the Penticton Indian Band, the Ministry of Forests and Rural Development and consultants from Davies Wildfire, according to a Penticton Indian Band media release.

The burn is expected to take place within the next two to four weeks, depending on weather and site conditions.

The band says smoke from the burn may be visible to nearby communities, but firefighting crews will be monitoring the fire at all times.

The burn is intended to help restore and enhance wildlife habitat in addition to reducing risk of wildfire in the area by reducing fuel loads, the band says.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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