If you’re living or travelling around the Sun Peaks area Thursday, expect to see some localized smoke in the region.

Cassidy Martin, Fire Information Officer with the Kamloops Fire Center, says controlled burns are taking place near the Village throughout the day.

“The BC Wildfire Service is partnering with the Sun Peaks Resort on a wildfire risk reduction project,” said Martin.  “The project is taking place at Tod Mountain, approximately four kilometers northeast of Sun Peaks.”

She notes the burning is going to run through the daytime hours, which will send a noticeable amount of smoke into the area.

“Our crews will be working to burn approximately 8 piles throughout the day,” noted Martin.  “These pile-burning activities just help to reduce wildfire hazards, but just reducing the accumulation of fuels, i.e.: dead wood or brush on the landscape.”

It comes as the Wildfire Service continues to work its way through dozens of burn piles southwest of Kamloops.

“That project taking place at Greenstone Mountain is about 20 kilometers southwest of Kamloops,” said Martin.  “The BC Wildfire Service crews are working on burning approximately 50 piles, with the potential for additional piles as they continue.”

That project is due to run through the end of November.