BC Wildfire Service crews will assist with two ecosystem restoration burns within the Cariboo Fire Centre over the next few weeks. Smoke from these fires may be visible from nearby communities and Highway 20. These prescribed burns will be managed by the ministry’s Ecosystem Restoration Program and could begin as early as Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020 and continue until Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. The decision on when to proceed with burning will depend on weather and site conditions. Such burns are conducted only when conditions are suitable. Firefighters will closely monitor the fires at all times.
Eniyud Community Forrest
• This ecosystem restoration burn will cover about 147 hectares in the Eniyud Community Forest, about 15 kilometres northwest of the community of Tatla Lake.
• The goals of this prescribed burn project are to: mitigate wildfire risks by reducing accumulations of forest fuels; remove damaging lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe plants;
prepare the site for restoration; and support the establishment of a new, healthy stand of young trees.
• The lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium americanum) is a naturally occurring parasitic plant that lives in these trees. It impairs an infested tree’s growth and causes deformities, which limits its use in the manufacture of forest products. Fire is a normal, natural process in many British Columbia ecosystems. Historically, lodgepole pine forests are regenerated when fire eliminates existing stands of these trees. Apart from a fire eradicating lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe plants, the heat releases seeds from cones so a new forest can grow.
Joes Lake
• This ecosystem restoration burn will cover about 159 hectares, about four kilometres southeast of Alkali.
• The overall objective is to reduce accumulations of fine fuels (i.e. smaller wood debris and vegetation).
• If this site is not treated using prescribed fire, any wildfire that occurred there could produce a crown fire that would be more difficult to extinguish.
• Removing the fine fuels will not only create as a fuel break for the nearby community, but also improve plant biodiversity and range habitat.
• This burn will be done in partnership with Alkali Resource Management, the Community of Alkali, and the Es’ketemc people. A prescribed fire is an intentionally ignited fire that is planned and managed by a certified burn boss. The burn boss is responsible for ensuring that the initial burn conditions are favorable and that the fires are extinguished once the prescribed burns are completed.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 tollfree or *5555 on a cellphone.
For up-to-date information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, call 1 888 3-FOREST or visit: www.bcwildfire.ca
You can follow the latest wildfire news on:
• Twitter at: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
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A Factsheet about prescribed burns and ecosystem restoration burns in available online at:
http://ow.ly/egWL30rbP8v
