Smoke plume near West Kelowna from prescribed burn

The thick plume of smoke coming from the West Kelowna area is a prescribed burn.

The Penticton Indian Band and Okanagan Nation Alliance are conducting 40 hectares of a 170-ha prescribed burn today, Oct. 27, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service. The Westbank First Nation, Gorman Brothers Ltd. and the Okanagan Shuswap Resource District are also involved..

Fire information officer Aydan Coray said an adequate amount of personal and equipment are on scene to keep the flames contained.

READ MORE: Prescribed burns aren't just for fire protection, Penticton Indian Band councillor says

The project was initially scheduled for the spring but unfavourable conditions meant it had to be postponed until now, she said.

“The goals of prescribed burns are to provide a level of community protection by reducing fuel, restoring the ecosystem, enhance cultural values, and practicing the traditional use of fire to improve the landscape,” Coray said.

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