Photo: Contributed - Brian Mosychuk

If you're travelling the Okanagan Connector, don't be alarmed if you seem plumes of thick black smoke on the horizon.

It's that time of year when private companies and the Ministry of Forests burn off piles of logging debris before open burning concludes in the spring.

One such burn could be seen from miles away Thursday, near the Elkhart Lodge.

At least a half dozen slash piles were burning, all producing thick, black smoke.

Kayla Pepper with the Wildfire Management Branch said she was not aware of any ministry burns in that area.

She said it was most likely a private company burn.