When tradition meets modern technology
Traditional knowledge has been combined with modern resources to help put a lid on the Skaha Creek wildfire burning immediately west of Penticton.
The fire was still pegged at 212 hectares Tuesday – unchanged from a day earlier – and had spawned an evacuation alert for 210 properties on the Penticton Indian Reserve
The alert was issued late Monday by the Penticton Indian Band and covers the entire reserve south of Green Mountain Road, including Skaha Hills, Riva Ridge and the Holiday Hills RV Resort.
In addition to overseeing emergency preparations, the band has also been lending its knowledge of the land to the BC Wildfire Service as the agency draws up plans for controlled ignitions meant to reinforce containment lines.
“PIB Natural Resources had personnel involved in the planning of the ignition and fire guards ensuring minimal impacts to our cultural values in the area,” stated the band’s emergency operations centre in a press release Tuesday.
A small planned ignition Tuesday on the northeast part of the fire “yielded positive results,” according to the release, while a larger planned ignition on the east flank was called off due to unfavourable conditions.
BC Wildfire Service spokeswoman Roslyn Johnson said the fire remained active Tuesday but was burning within containment lines and not threatening any structures.
The PIB is also contributing resources in the form of heavy equipment on loan from bandowned Westhills Aggregates and giving thanks to those involved in the fight.
“We send our appreciation out to all persons and responders working hard in keeping our communities safe,” the release stated.
“Members of the public are asked not to come out to the reserve and park along the roadways in an attempt to get a closer look. This includes all dirt roads as we have an off-road ban currently in effect and only authorized personnel are permitted. The RCMP have committed to additional patrols to ensure public safety.”
The BCWS has 15 pieces of heavy equipment and 84 personnel on the ground Tuesday.
The fire, which is suspected to be human-caused, sparked Saturday afternoon in the hills approximately four kilometres west of Penticton Regional Airport.