Search PentictonNow
The City of Penticton has issued open burning restrictions for the area in order to reduce air pollution.
A release from the city says that no new fires may be initiated and no additional material may be added to existing fires in the Penticton area, following the implementation of open burning restrictions for all high smoke sensitivity zones by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
As cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in BC continue to increase, the BC Centre for Disease Control recommends implementing measures that help to reduce excess air pollution in populated airsheds.
“Burning restrictions are common place as we head into our community’s dry season, but with concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19 and the respiratory challenges it triggers, it’s critical to ensure our local airshed remains clear and clean for as long as possible,” said Penticton Emergency Operations Director, Larry Watkinson. “All open burning must immediately stop.”
There is strong evidence that exposure to air pollution increases susceptibility to respiratory viral infections by decreasing immune function, the City said.