Smoke visible from Hwy 97 part of Spion Kop wildfire work

Published on February 7, 2023 by Okanagan Journal

Photo: Contributed/District of Lake Country

Smoke was visible from Highway 97 in Lake Country Tuesday as a project to reduce the wildfire risk continued in the area near Spion Kop.

The District of Lake Country reminded residents of the ongoing work.

BC Wildfire Service is also aware of the burning.

The mitigation project, burning about 1,600 piles of wood in the bush, will continue until spring.

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Original: Jan. 27, 2023

Expect to see smoke and fire near Spion Kop over the next couple months.

The BC Wildfire Service says a ‘wildfire risk reduction’ project has started over a 54-hectare area near Spion Kop in the District of Lake Country.

The Okanagan Shuswap Natural Resource District is burning about 1,600 piles of wood debris on the west side of Highway 97 and above Carrs Landing Road.

“Smoke and/or flames may be visible from Lake Country and surrounding areas,” says the wildfire service.

“This risk reduction project aims to remove fuels otherwise available for wildfire consumption. Unmanaged fuels increase wildfire risk and the potential for intense wildfire behaviour.”

The work is being done through the Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction funding stream, which is intended to lower wildfire risks and create more fire-resilient landscapes.

Burning for the project started in January and will continue until spring, depending on site, weather, venting and snow conditions, says the wildfire service.

Burning will only go ahead if the conditions will allow the smoke to dissipate.

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Updated with new photo, reminder of ongoing work.

Original published Jan. 27, 2023.