You might see smoke in the hills this weekend

VERNON – Smoke and flames from a wildfire training exercise may be visible in the Predator Ridge area and along Highway 97 this weekend.
 
The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is offering a fire suppression and safety course to approximately 35 Canadian Forces personnel in the Vernon Fire Zone.
 
Kayla Pepper, an information officer with the Wildfire Management Branch says a two-hectare fire will be lit south of Vernon on Saturday and Sunday if conditions are favourable.

The training prepares military personnel to be ready to assist during times of extreme fire activity. The last time the military was called upon to assist the Wildfire Management Branch was during the 2003 fire season.

“Trained firefighters and equipment will be on site at all times to ensure the fire remains within its designated area,” Pepper says.
 
All wildland firefighters in B.C. are required to successfully complete the S-100 Basic Fire Suppression and Safety course before being deployed on a wildfire. Upon completion of the course, participants will successfully have demonstrated wildfire suppression and safety skills, worked with fire equipment and received an introduction to fire behaviour.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230.