Why this controlled burn was needed in a West Kelowna park

KELOWNA – You might notice smoke coming from West Kelowna’s Kalamoir Regional Park today while crews conduct a controlled burn.

Due to vandalism on some of the trees near the King Road entrance to the park, the Central Okanagan Regional District is burning wood debris that could pose a fire hazard.

The regional district picked today, Friday, Feb. 27, for the burn due to favourable air quality and venting conditions.

All local fire departments have been advised of the activity and will be notified when further burning takes place.

Additional controlled burns are required to dispose of fire hazard debris collected along a four kilometer section of trail in Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park as a result of the 2012 wildfire.

“Visitors may encounter temporary trail closures as crews fall hazard trees for this project,” communications officer Bruce Smith says in a media release.

Collected debris will also be burned as part of a multi-year B.C. Wildfire Management Branch fire hazard mitigation program on a ten-hectare section of Rose Valley Regional Park off Pettman and Bowes Roads. 

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.