Central Okanagan

Don't be alarmed if you see smoke emanating from the hills around Kelowna over the next month or so.

Photo: Contributed - Andrew Stark

Contractors working for the Okanagan Shuswap District of the Ministry of Forests will be collecting and burning waste wood and other fuels in the Gillard Creek area.

Back in 2007, several pine trees in a 2,000 hectare area south of Kelowna were blown down during a windstorm.

All of the marketable timber has been salvaged leaving only waste wood that presents a natural fire hazard.

The area is scheduled to be cleared and burned off this fall with replanting efforts set for the spring of next year.

The wood will be burned periodically over the next month.

In order to minimize the impact of smoke on residents in surrounding communities, fires will only be lit during favourable venting conditions when smoke will disperse quickly.

Smoke will likely be visible in Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country.