VERNON - Smoke and flames from a controlled grass fire will be visible in the Predator Ridge area southwest of Vernon and along Highway 97 on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 1, 2014.

Wildfire Management Branch personnel will be conducting the burn to eliminate fire hazards around the Vernon Fire Zone office and provide a training opportunity for firefighting staff. The fire will be limited to an area approximately four hectares in size.

This type of fire falls under the Category 3 open burning regulations, as permitted under the Wildfire Act.

This burn will be ignited and continuously monitored by trained firefighting crews to ensure that the fire does not get out of control. The fire crew supervisor (the “burn boss”) is responsible for ensuring that the initial burn conditions are favourable and that the fire is extinguished once the prescribed burn is completed. If weather conditions are not favourable, the burn will not go ahead.

All Category 3 fires must comply with the Environmental Management Act and the open burning smoke control regulation. This helps minimize the amount of smoke that is generated.

Media Contacts:

Kayla Pepper
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Kamloops Fire Centre
250 554-5530