The smoke and fire you can see from Highway 3 between Keremeos and Hedley on Sunday is a prescribed burn. A prescribed burn got underway up Crater Mountain.

The controlled burn by Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Okanagan Nation Alliance and BC Wildfire Service moved forward this week, with ignitions aimed to cover 1,100 hectares once the burn is complete.

Such burns not only use traditional knowledge and land management practices, but also are creating healthier and more vibrant ecosystems.

The burn is the second phase of a multi-year project to improve the bighorn sheep habitat in the area. The first phase burned 192 hectares of the planned 1,100 total area.

*VISIBLE SMOKE* #BCHwy3 btwn #Keremeos & #HedleyBC. Prescribed burn started today (Apr 17). 1100ha to be burnt. @Okanagannation & @BCGovFireInfo facilitating along with #LowerSimilkameenIndianBand. If you see smoke not assoc to this fire, call *-5-5-5-5 on your cell! @TranBC_OKS pic.twitter.com/6obBDZfYhA

— AIMRoads (@AimRoads) April 18, 2021

Prescribed burns have been taking place throughout South Okanagan to prevent future wildfires and also to promote new growth.

SEE MORE: Truck gutted by fire

READ MORE: Prescribed burn to help bighorn sheep habitat

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.