A controlled burn in Knox Mountain Park is underway.
The Kelowna Fire Department (KFD) and City of Kelowna parks department, with support from the BC Wildfire Service, are conducting the 11-hectare burn operation in a forested area at the top of Knox Mountain today.
According to the City, the prescribed burn will reduce wildfire risk and the “continuous build up of fine fields and woody debris,” as well as decrease shrub coverage and restore natural habitats.
The main target is excess vegetation close to homes, park infrastructure and environmentally-sensitive areas.
“Reducing fuel loads in Knox Mountain Park is a proactive step to protect nearby homes and preserve the park’s natural beauty,” explained Dennis Craig from the KFD. “Prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools we have to lower wildfire risk while supporting ecosystem health.”
This is the first time the KFD has undergone this type of prescribed burn, but the City notes it has been executed successfully in places like Lake Country, Kamloops and Cranbrook.
City, KFD and BCWS crews will be actively monitoring and managing the fire today and over the weekend.
Post-burn assessments will evaluate the operation’s success and mop-up operations will ensure all fires are fully extinguished within two weeks, the City says.
According to the City’s urban forestry supervisor, Todd Cashin, fire plays a “vital role in rejuvenating ecosystems.”
It helps thin the forest and opens up the canopy, allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor and nurture trees of varying ages,” Cashin said. “Fire also recycles nutrients by converting woody debris into mineral-rich ash, enriching the soil and promoting new growth.”
Measures will be in place to minimize smoke impact, which is why burning only occurs under specific weather conditions, but smoke will be visible in Knox Mountain Park.
Nearby residents, especially those with respiratory conditions, are advised to stay indoors if possible and limit outdoor activities, especially strenuous exercises, in the area.
