PENTICTON – The BC Wildfire Service and Penticton Indian Band plan to conduct two prescribed burns in the South Okanagan with support from the Okanagan Shuswap Resource District.

Prep work for this prescribed burn could start as early as February 27, 2023. However, the burn itself likely won’t occur until after March 15, 2023. The exact timing of the burn will be dependent on local weather and venting conditions. Ignition will proceed only if conditions are suitable and will allow for quick smoke dissipation.

Ellis Creek prescribed burn

• This burn will cover an estimated 95-hectares located approximately six kilometres east of Penticton.

Penticton Creek prescribed burn

• This burn will cover an estimated 51.5-hectares located approximately eight kilometres northeast of Penticton.

The Penticton Indian Band and the BC Wildfire Service will carefully control and continually monitor the fires throughout the duration of the project. Smoke and flames may be visible from Penticton and surrounding areas, and to travellers along Highways 97, 97C and Highway 3A. For information about road conditions near these projects, please visit www.drivebc.ca.

The purpose of this prescribed burn is to improve public safety through a reduction in fuel loading (standing and surface fuel) within the wildland urban interface (WUI). This provides a level of community protection from wildfire and supports the traditional use of fire as a tool to improve the landscape. 

Learn More:

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

Contact:

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

Shaelee Stearns
Fire Information Officer
Kamloops Fire Centre, BC Wildfire Service
250-554-5965
BCWS.KFCInformationOfficer@gov.bc.ca