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 https://infotel.ca/newsitem/fire-crews-working-second-wildfire-in-smith-creek-area-near-west-kelowna/it110196 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. https://www.rdco.com/en/living-here/crimestoppers.aspx To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas mailto:jtomas@infonews.ca  or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. Find our Journalism Ethics policy here. https://infotel.ca/newsitem/code-of-ethics/it106782 We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .