The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is planning a prescribed burn in the Gilpin Creek and Morrissey Creek areas later this month. An information session about the project will be held on April 12.

The 25-hectare prescribed burn is part of the provincial government's strategy to restore and maintain forest and range ecosystems. This controlled burn will help re-establish appropriate ecological conditions, maintain winter range forage for grazing animals and reduce forest fuel loads.

The prescribed burn will take place about five kilometres east of Grand Forks. Smoke and flames may be visible from locations in Grand Forks and along Highway 3.

No specific date has been set for this prescribed burn, but it is planned to occur during the last two weeks of April, depending on weather and site conditions. This ecosystem restoration burn will proceed only if weather and fire behaviour conditions will allow for low to moderate fire intensity and quick smoke dissipation. If conditions are not suitable, this prescribed burn may not occur this year.

The goal of the burn is to mimic a naturally occurring ground fire and reduce the level of dead and combustible material in grassland and open forest areas. Removal of these forest fuels helps limit the threat of catastrophic wildfires. Fire can also discourage insect infestations and help fire-adapted plant species reproduce, such as grasses that thrive in newly cleared areas or trees whose seeds are only released when exposed to heat.

A drop-in information session about the prescribed burn will be held on April 12, 2012 at the Service BC office in Grand Forks (7290 Second Ave.), from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

When it becomes available, video of the burn will be posted on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Media contact:

Karlie Shaughnessy
Fire Information Officer
Southeast Fire Centre
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 365-4014