Prescribed burn scheduled near Peachland



PENTICTON – The BC Wildfire Service, Penticton Indian Band, Westbank First Nation and Okanagan Nation Alliance will be conducting a 85 hectare prescribed burn as part of the multi-year Munro prescribed burn project. This project is implemented with support from Gorman Brothers Ltd. and the Okanagan Shuswap Resource District.

Preparation work for this prescribed burn could start as early as Oct. 8, 2024. Smoke from the prescribed burn may be visible through to Nov. 30, 2024. The exact timing of the burn will be dependent on weather, site and venting conditions. Ignition will proceed only if conditions are suitable and will allow for quick smoke dissipation.

The Penticton Indian Band, Westbank First Nation and the BC Wildfire Service will carefully control and monitor the fire at all times. Smoke and flames may be visible from Peachland, Summerland, Kelowna, Penticton and surrounding areas, and to travellers along Highways 97 and 97C. For information about road conditions near these projects, please visit www.drivebc.ca.

The purpose of this prescribed burn is to:

  • provide a level of community protection from wildfire by reducing fuel
  • restore the ecosystem, including mule deer winter range
  • and enhance Indigenous cultural values in the area while also supporting the traditional use of fire as a tool to improve the landscape

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call *5555 on a cell phone or 1 800 663-5555 toll-free, or submit a report directly through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app.

Learn more:

For more information on the importance of cultural burning and prescribed fire, please visit prescribedfire.ca.

For more information on the Munro prescribed fire project, please watch the case study video on prescribedfire.ca.

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Contact:

James Pepper
Natural Resources Director
Penticton Indian Band
jpepper@pib.ca
250 492-0411

Dave Gill
General Manager
Westbank First Nation
dgill@ntityixresources.com
250 768-5617

Marc Steynen
Natural Resources Program Lead
Okanagan Nation Alliance
msteynen@sylix.org
778 392-7850

Fire Information Officer
Kamloops Fire Centre
BC Wildfire Service
KFCINFO@gov.bc.ca
250 554-5965

Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect.