Illegal fireworks may have sparked back-to-back Okanagan wildfires, RCMP say

British Columbia·NewThe maximum penalty is $1 million and three years in jail.Maximum penalty is $1M and 3 years in jailCBC News · Posted: Aug 14, 2025 5:28 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes agoCrews work to clean up hot spots from a fire believed to have been sparked by the illegal use of fireworks near West Kelowna, B.C. (West Kelowna RCMP)West Kelowna RCMP say they believe two back-to-back wildfires were sparked by the illegal use of fireworks in a rural part of the Okanagan community.The police force says they are investigating after two wildfires were reported within 500 metres of each other, one at 11 a.m. and one at 3 p.m. PT on Aug. 13 near Smith Creek Road and Dixie Road, in a wooded area on the northwest outskirts of the city.The fires were contained, but not without the support of ground crews and helicopters.Police say they believe the fires are connected and linked to a report they received the previous evening of a group of people operating a utility task vehicle, also known as a side-by-side, and setting off fireworks in the area.The region is currently covered by a category 2 and category 3 fire ban, which means the use of fireworks and other explosives is illegal.The penalty for starting a fire while contravening a ban in B.C. is up to $1 million and/or a maximum of three years in jail.Police say they have found the vehicle they believe to be connected to the case and continue to investigate.At the time the wildfires were set off, the B.C. Wildfire Service was warning that hot weather of more than 30 C and gusty winds were contributing to volatile conditions in the B.C. Interior.Of the 88 wildfires currently burning in B.C., the majority are believed to be sparked by lightning, while 16 — or 18 per cent — are suspected to be human-caused, a broad category that includes any fire not sparked by lightning, ranging from arson to campfires to sparks from a train or vehicle to a downed power line.The only wildfire of note currently burning in the province, the Mount Underwood fire southeast of Port Alberni, is also believed to be human-caused, but no other details have been made available.In their statement, RCMP remind the public to “exercise caution and responsibility” due to the risks of wildfires provincewide.