With good air quality and venting conditions today (Sunday, March 9, 2014) the Regional District of Central Okanagan advises a controlled burn is underway in Coldham Regional Park.

This is to dispose of fire hazard debris collected as part of a large fuel modification project on just over nine hectares in the park located at Trepanier Road and Maxwell Road just off the Okangan Connector Highway 97-C.

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

Further controlled burns will likely be required to dispose of the fire hazard debris that’s being collected in Coldham and for additional fuel modification projects underway on a 20-hectare area in Stephens Coyote Ridge Regional Park and a 21-hectare section of Scenic Canyon Regional Park.

As well, when crews are available, the BC Wildfire Management Branch will burn hazard debris piles in a portion of Rose Valley Regional Park above Bear Creek Road off Bowes and Pettman Roads. This material from hazard trees and brushing was collected last year as part of a larger, ten-hectare multi-year fuel modification project.

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.