If you start to see smoke in the hills, don’t panic right away, it may just be the prescribed burning at Crater Mountain.
The BC Wildfire Service, Lower Similkameen Indian Band and Okanagan Nation Alliance are set to start phase two of their prescribed burn near Crater Mountain, 15 kilometres west of Keremeos. It will start in early April.
Preparation for the burn is starting on March 18, with the burn itself beginning in early April, if conditions are favourable.
The burn is the second phase of a multi-year project to improve the bighorn sheep habitat in the area. The first phase took place in 2019, and the second phase was originally set to take place in 2020.
READ MORE: Open house to offer answers to residents burning questions
The first phase burned 192 hectares of the planned 1,100 total area.
Smoke may be visible from the fires in nearby communities.
However, not all smoke will be from the Crater Mountain burn. To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 or *5555 on a cell phone.
To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.
<p<
@PentictonNews newstips@pentictonwesternnews.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
