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.

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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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