Fuel management treatments and beetle tree removal will be initiated within the Dairy Fields in the vicinity of Midnight Drive, Western Avenue, and 11th Avenue Lane. Up to 5.5 hectares will be treated over a period of several weeks commencing as early as December 2nd, 2019. The purpose of the fuel management treatments is to minimize the impact of fire in the area, if one were to occur, by reducing the amount of dead timber as well as forest fuels that have built up over many years. No fuel treatments will completely remove the risk of future fires, however, the intensity of a potential fire will be reduced and the ability to suppress it will be enhanced. The treatments will selectively remove trees killed by bark beetles, as well as small live and dead conifer trees. Aspen, cottonwood and birch will be retained. The remaining forest will be comprised of large and small trees with more room to grow, and we expect this will improve the health of the remaining trees.
We expect that the fuel cut from the area will be transported to timber processing as available or chipped and distributed in place, however, if required due to inaccessible or hazardous conditions some burning may need to take place. Due to the proximity of properties, you may notice that treatment may be conducted up to the edge of your property. In order to facilitate safe, quick and effective treatment we ask that you please avoid the area where possible, this includes children and pets. As this area is popular for a variety of recreational activities, the area will be closed to public access during fuel management treatments. Please respect the work space of the treatment contractors to ensure both their safety and yours.
Contractors doing the work will be qualified and equipped to carry out the work in a professional and efficient manner. They will be implementing plans prepared according to professional forestry standards on behalf of the City of Williams Lake. Supervision of the work will be provided by KDay Forestry Ltd. Funding for this project is provided by Province of British Columbia’s Community Resilience Initiative through the Union of BC Municipalities. Private landowners are encouraged to implement FireSmart principles on their own property to reduce the risk of fire, and protect their property and families – please visit https://firesmartbc.ca/ for more information.
For technical or operational questions about the details of the project, contact the Williams Lake Fire Department at 250-392-4321 or Ken Day, RPF @ j.kenneth.day@gmail.com or call 250-267-2474. Please call if you have any general questions or concerns about this project or forest fuel management in general.
Erick Peterson, Fire Chief
Williams Lake Volunteer Fire Department
