Hundreds of wood piles to be burned

People in and around the Central and South Okanagan may see some smoke in the area, but it won’t be any cause for alarm.

The B.C. Wildfire Service plans to burn an estimated 200 piles of wood debris in the Penticton Fire Zone.

The work, done in partnership with B.C. Parks and the Okanagan Shuswap Resource District, is part of a fuels management project supporting the City of Kelowna’s Community Wildfire Protection Program.

B.C. Wildfire Service staff will prepare, control and monitor the burns, which could begin as early as Monday, March 13.

The exact timing of the burns will depend of the site, weather, venting and snow conditions. The work only be done if conditions are suitable and allow for smoke dissipation.

The Wildfire Service noted the smoke or flames could be visible from surrounding communities, including Kelowna.