If you frequently travel the Coquihalla and Okanagan Connector, don’t be alarmed if you see smoke around Merritt over the next four months.
BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) crews will be burning around 50 piles of wood debris near Lindley Creek Road.
The burn site is about five kilometres northwest of Merritt so smoke will be visible from both the Coquihalla, Connector and Highway 8.
The work is expected to get underway on Monday, Nov. 3 and will happen throughout the winter and early spring.
A news release from the BCWS said the work should be done by Mar. 31, 2026.
“This project is taking place in conjunction with the Cascades Natural Resource District for wildfire risk reduction purposes,” the BCWS said.
“The purpose of the project is to reduce the intensity of potential wildfire in the area by removing forest fuels such as dead branches and woody debris.”
The burning will only happen if the conditions are favourable and crews will be onsite carefully preparing, controlling and monitoring the piles.
Thumbnail photo credit: Google Maps
