West Kelowna

 

Controlled burns in the Okanagan Jan. 26, 2012

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

West Kelowna

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

West Kelowna

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

West Kelowna

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

West Kelowna

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

Above Glenmore

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

Above Glenmore

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

Above Glenmore

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If you see plumes of smoke rising from the hills Thursday do not panic, there are controlled burns taking place.

The Westbank First Nations are conducting a controlled burn at the end of Red Cloud Way behind the Two Eagles Golf Course, to clear the debris from last year from property they have been developing.

Lenonard Raphael is helping to burn the debris and he says the each burn is placed into a small pile.

"I keep feeding the fire so I can get rid of the pile eventually because we only have a certain number of hours (to conduct the burn)."

The burn will last into Thursday afternoon.

Residents may also notice smoke in Rose Valley Regional Park.  The Regional District of Central Okanagan says with good air quality and venting conditions today a controlled burn is underway.

“Open burning is allowed today for those eligible property owners with permits from their local fire authority and with a permit issued by West Kelowna Fire Rescue, piles of pine beetle infested and other fire hazard wood debris are being burned today in Rose Valley Regional Park," says Communications Officer Bruce Smith.

"Further controlled burns may be required in the coming weeks to dispose of fire hazard debris that will be collected as part of a fuel modification project on approximately 50-hectares of the park bounded by Rose Valley Properties on the south, Westlake Road, Rose Valley Elementary School, West Kelowna Road and McPhail Court.”

Last November, RDCO sent letters to several hundred nearby residents advising of the work and asking that they stay off any closed trails while crews are working in various areas of the park.

In Kelowna, smoke could be rising in the Glenmore area, as crews there worked to burn debris.