Brace for it — potential record breaking heat is almost here. It’s already unseasonably warm in the Okanagan, with the temperature breaking the 30 degree mark today, but this is just the beginning. By the end of the weekend the mercury is forecast to rise to the high 30s.
“We’re putting significant resources on standby both in the Vernon area and the Kamloops Fire Centre region to ensure we’re prepared as well as we can be,” says forestry protection officer, Glen Burgess.
In the north Okanagan specifically, an alarming trend has fire crews concerned. There have been six small fires in the past two weeks alone — all of them human caused.
“It’s concerning…and it’s just not acceptable,” says Vernon’s deputy fire chief, Lawrie Skolrood,
RCMP don’t believe the fires are related, but are still investigating how they started and if they were simply people making careless mistakes.
But with nothing but hot, dry weather in the forecast, fire crews don’t want to waste any effort on preventable fires.
The fire danger rating in Vernon and Kelowna jumped from moderate to high Thursday. Penticton has been sitting at high for the past few weeks. Wildfire management officials say it’s likely parts of the Okanagan will hit the extreme danger rating before the weekend is through.
Fire officials are warning everyone to be extra cautious and if you see a fire, call it in right away.
Comments