Okanagan communities plan prescribed burns to reduce wildfire risk
The planned burn at Knox Mountain would be the park's second prescribed burn carried out by the department in the past year.
After a severe wildfire season in the Okanagan, the Kelowna Fire Department plans to conduct prescribed burns in several areas of the city, including Knox Mountain. This is the park’s second prescribed burn by the department in the past year. Residents living nearby see the proactive approach as welcome news, as they have witnessed the devastation caused by wildfires in Summerland.
The fire department aims to carry out three prescribed burns across the city over the next month, but weather conditions will ultimately determine the safe timing for the burns. Assistant Chief of Mitigation, Risk, and Wellness Dennis Craig emphasized that prescribed fire aims to reduce fuel availability for wildfires, thereby decreasing the severity and intensity of any potential fire.
While prescribed fire is not new to the city, it is relatively new for the area, requiring public acceptance and extensive planning. Craig noted that the burns will also provide a training opportunity for fire officials from across British Columbia through the B.C. Wildfire Service's Training Exchange (TREX) program. The program allows firefighters to gain experience and help develop capacity for prescribed fire across the province, contributing to building more fire on the landscape.
Similar prescribed burns are being planned in Lake Country and the North Okanagan. For residents like Roy Shatz, taking more steps to reduce wildfire risk is crucial, as their region has experienced repeated wildfire devastation.
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