{"id":147383,"date":"2025-08-15T08:51:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T08:51:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/147383\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T08:51:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T08:51:16","slug":"this-fire-didnt-have-to-happen-human-caused-wildfires-raise-alarm-in-west-kelowna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/147383\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018This fire didn\u2019t have to happen\u2019: Human-caused wildfires raise alarm in West Kelowna"},"content":{"rendered":"

A wildfire in West Kelowna<\/a>, B.C., is once again putting human negligence \u2014 or even outright recklessness \u2014 in the spotlight.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m frustrated. This fire didn\u2019t have to happen,\u201d said West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund.<\/p>\n

The fire broke out Wednesday morning near Smith Creek. Helicopters were quickly deployed as crews from West Kelowna Fire Rescue and BC Wildfire Service moved in fast. Within hours, the flames were under control.<\/p>\n

But the danger didn\u2019t end there.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were surprised to be called back to the same vicinity again that same afternoon,\u201d said Brolund. \u201cIt was not the first fire reigniting. It was a new start.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second fire was quickly doused.<\/p>\n

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Now, RCMP are investigating after multiple witnesses reported seeing people in a UTV discharging fireworks in the area the night before the fires.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe understand when someone causes a fire by accident \u2014 they\u2019re doing something and it gets out of control,\u201d Brolund said. \u201cBut there\u2019s no explanation for that here.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Both fires are believed to be linked, and both are confirmed to be human-caused.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt frustrating to hear that people are not smart enough to connect the fact that we are at the peak of wildfire season, yet they go into a wildland urban interface \u2014 surrounded by homes, with people sleeping in them \u2014 and discharge fireworks.\u201d<\/p>\n

This majority of fires this year are believed to be human-caused.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo far this year, of the 162 fires in the Kamloops Fire Centre, about 99 are suspected to be human-caused \u2014 that\u2019s about 61 per cent,\u201d said BC Wildfire Service fire information officer Taylor Wallace.<\/p>\n

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