RCMP suspect fireworks caused pair of West Kelowna wildfires

Investigators suspect fireworks cause a pair of wildfires Wednesday in the Smith Creek area of West Kelowna.

West Kelowna RCMP received a report of a wildfire near Smith Creek Road and Dixie Road around 11 a.m., Aug. 13, according to a press release from police. West Kelowna Fire Department and BC Wildfire Service responded with ground crews and helicopters and extinguished the fire within a few hours.

The second fire was reported around 3 p.m. around 500 metres away from the first one and is under control. 

There were no injuries reported in either fire and no evacuations.

The wildfire service suspects both were human caused.

West Kelowna RCMP and the Ministry of Forests Enforcement Branch are looking into how the fires started. 

RCMP say people in a utility task vehicle, or UTV, were lighting off fireworks in the area around 10:45 p.m. the night before.

Anyone with information about the wildfire has been asked to contact West Kelowna RCMP at 250-768-2880 and reference file number 2025-47891 or 2025-47956.

Tips can be given anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online here.

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Jesse Tomas

Jesse Tomas is a reporter from Toronto who joined iNFOnews.ca in 2023. He graduated with a Bachelor in Journalism from Carleton University in 2022.