The Cariboo Fire Centre is advising that prescribed burns are planned for the Becher's Prairie area west of Williams Lake between April 23 and May 4, weather conditions permitting.

The burns are for ecosystem restoration purposes and will cover an area of more than 200 hectares. The largest burn will be about 110 hectares in size.

Historically, grasslands in the Cariboo-Chilcotin were renewed through frequent, low-intensity ground fires. Such fires prevented tree encroachment, rejuvenated understory plants and maintained more open grasslands and forests with large trees.

The reintroduction of managed, low-intensity ground fires to these grasslands is intended to restore and maintain the traditional grassland plant communities that naturally occur in these areas.

These fires are part of an ongoing ecosystem restoration program administered by the provincial government in consultation with First Nations, local ranchers, the B.C. Wildlife Federation and the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society.

A factsheet follows.

Media contact:

Jenny Fremlin
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch

Cariboo Fire Centre
250 989-2665
jenny.fremlin@gov.bc.ca

FACTSHEET

Cariboo Fire Centre

Prescribed burning used as ecosystem management tool

• Fire is a normal, natural process in many of British Columbia's ecosystems. Many species of plants, birds, insects and other animals depend on fire for its regenerative properties.
• Fire helps control insects and the spread of disease in forests. It also contributes to forest succession, as younger trees replace older trees. Having trees of various ages in a forest helps maintain biodiversity.
• Prescribed burning is one of the tools used by forest professionals to achieve land-management objectives. For example, fire can be used to enhance habitat and improve forage for cattle, deer, bighorn sheep and moose. A controlled burn can also reduce fuel loads (combustible material such as underbrush and dead wood) and reduce the risk of wildfire in interface areas (where urban development borders on rural areas).
• The size and intensity of prescribed burns are carefully planned and controlled to meet management objectives for fire-maintained ecosystems. Prescribed burns are only ignited when weather conditions are favourable and when the fire will not create excessive smoke. Important factors that are used to determine the date of a burn include the venting index, temperature, humidity and wind conditions.
• The venting index is a measure of how quickly smoke will disperse under specific conditions. Prescribed fires may only be ignited on days when the forecast for the venting index is "good" or better.
• All prescribed burns must comply with the Environmental Management Act's open burning smoke control regulation, which helps minimize the amount of smoke generated.
• A prescribed burn is ignited and continuously monitored by trained firefighting crews to ensure that the fire does not get out of control. The fire crew supervisor (the "burn boss") is responsible for ensuring that the initial burn conditions are favourable and that the fire is extinguished once the prescribed burn is completed.

Media contact:

Jenny Fremlin
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Cariboo Fire Centre
250 989-2665
jenny.fremlin@gov.bc.ca