If you see smoke coming from an area northwest of Summerland, there likely isn’t any reason to be alarmed.

On Monday, the BC Wildfire Service will begin open burns east of Fish Lake Road, around two kilometres west of Mount Acland.

There are 11 piles of woody debris to be burned, which will help rehabilitate the site of the Finlay Creek wildfire and reduce wildfire risks in the area.

Smoke from these burn piles may be visible from nearby communities like Penticton, Peachland, West Kelowna and Kelowna.

“The exact timing of the burns will depend on site, weather, venting and snow conditions,” says a release from the BCWS.

“Burning will proceed only if conditions are suitable and allow smoke to dissipate.”

There will always be staff from the BCWS on hand to carefully prepare, control and monitor these burns.

“The goals of rehabilitating this area are to reduce the threat of erosion and promote the re-establishment of vegetation,” says the statement. 

“Removing this woody debris will also reduce the threat of unwanted wildfires in the area.”

The Finlay Creek wildfire burned 2,224 hectares in the area in September 2017.