Wildfire mitigation efforts are being conducted near Summerland and around Penticton this winter. Controlled burning is expected to produce smoke visible in the South Okanagan from time to time.
Image Credit: Contributed
December 17, 2020 - 7:30 PM
Wildfire mitigation efforts near Summerland and Penticton are expected to produce smoke visible to South Okanagan residents over the next few months.
The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development says in a release today, Dec. 17, up to 60 piles of woody debris is going to be burned within the Antlers Saddle Conservation Land area of Garnet Valley over the next few months.
The piles are on Crown conservation lands located about 10 km north of Summerland at the end of Garnet Valley Road. Smoke from the piles could be visible in Summerland, Peachland, Penticton and surrounding areas in the coming days and months.
The burn is part of ongoing fuel management project being conducted by the ministry in an attempt to reduce wildfire hazards by burning dead wood and brush.
Wildfire mitigation is also being undertaken by the Penticton Fire Department, which is working with contract forestry workers to reduce fuels.
A news release issued by the city in late November said work is being targeted in the Three Blind Mice, the Banks of Dartmouth, the Esplanade, and Penticton Creek. Smoke may be visible from time to time as controlled burns are being carried out between December, 2020 and March, 2021.
Timing of the controlled burns will depend on weather, site conditions, venting conditions and snowfall.
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