Planned burns in Merritt area may produce visible smoke

MERRITT – You might see some smoke rising from pile burns in the Merritt area over the next few weeks if you’re travelling on the Coquihalla Highway to and from the Lower Mainland.

B.C. Wildfire Service plans to conduct the burning in the Nicola Lake area, northeast of Merritt, starting tomorrow, Oct. 1 through to Oct. 30. The burns will happen on either side of North Nicola Lake Road and the smoke could be visible from Highway 5, Highway 5A and nearby communities.

The exact timing will depend on conditions on-site, venting and when the snow falls, according to a Wildfire Service media release.

Wildfire Service stresses crews will only go ahead with the pile burning if the fire behaviour conditions are suitable and the smoke can vent quickly.

Burning of the 150 piles of brush will reduce future wildfire risk, along with reducing erosion by promoting the re-establishment of vegetation in the area.

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