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VIDEO: Increased wildfire activity cancels planned ignitions on Highway 3A

Planned ignitions are a tool used to burn out fuels

A planned ignition along Highway 3A has been cancelled Tuesday afternoon by BC Wildfire Services.

This morning, BC Wildfire said they had planned the ignition to be used as a response tactic to the Keremeos Creek fire.

However at this time, no planned ignition will take place on the southern flank of the fire along Highway 3A, said BC Wildfire in a Tweet. The reason is because the fire has become very active in that area this afternoon.

Highway 3A from Keremeos to Kaleden has been closed as of Tuesday until further notice following the wildfire coming too close to the road.

Some controlled burns were planned to help with the aggressive fire.

According to a video BC Wildfire made, planned ignitions are the ‘one foot in the black’ for firefighters.

“Fire can’t reburn and that’s why we use planned ignitions to make firefighters feel safe,” said Mike Healey, BC Wildfire operations manager.



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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