Expect to see smoke, flames from large controlled burns in Penticton-area

More than 1,000 piles of wood debris will be getting burned in the the South Okanagan starting on Monday.

The B.C. Wildfire Service is conducting the project in the Penticton Fire Zone beginning Monday, Nov. 1, in partnership with Okanagan Shuswap Resource District and Penticton Indian Band, to manage the amount of wildfire hazards in the area, according to a Ministry of Forests media release.

Crews will be burning at Penticton Creek, seven kilometres northeast of Penticton, where approximately 800 piles will be dealt with. At Ellis creek, about five kilometres east of Penticton, there are around 100 piles to set ablaze.

READ MORE: Fuel management part of prevention

The Penticton Fire Zone also includes the Peachland area, where 150 piles are to be burned near Meadow Valley, which is four kilometres southwest of the district.

Fires will be carefully prepared, controlled, and monitored by staff from the Penticton Indian Band and B.C. Wildfire Service, the ministry said. It wants the public to be aware smoke and flames may be visible from as far north as Kelowna and as far south as Okanagan Falls.

Location, weather, and venting conditions will all be considered before crews decide when to burn the piles.


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Dan Walton

Before joining the ranks of InfoTel, Dan’s byline could be found in newspapers in Penticton, Peachland and Oliver. Prior to his arrival in the South Okanagan, he first sharpened his chops as a reporter at a radio station in Brighton, Ontario, and then newspapers in Tisdale, Saskatchewan, and Invermere B.C.
From quilting competitions to crimes against humanity, Dan isn’t afraid to cover any topic. Always seeking out the best angles - whether it’s through the lens of his camera or the voices of his Interviews – he delves into the conflict and seeks out the humanity in every story worth telling.
Dan is always happy to hear from readers. To get in touch for any reason he can be contacted at (250) 488-3065 or dwalton@infonews.ca.

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