Trash burns as fire smokes

Photo: Contributed

Residents in Oliver are concerned after a neighbour was seen burning a pile of waste in his yard next to a home  that is currently under an evacuation alert – and within sight of one of two smouldering wildfires on the edge of town.

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen is aware of the issue, and the Oliver Fire Department was headed to the scene to investigate.

Open burning is not permitted April 15 to Oct. 15 each year. Those wanting to carry out a burn must do so after receiving a permit from the RDOS and outside the restricted months.

Those who receive a permit can burn a maximum of four times a year and only when the venting index is reported as good.

A witness to today's event says she saw a neighbour burn what appears to have been garbage for about 20 minutes this morning. She says her street is currently under an evacuation alert due to the Testalinden Creek wildfire.

In the photo above, the wildfire can be seen smoking in the left-hand corner while on the right side of the image the burn pile can be seen in front of the structures.