Prescribed burns are planned in the Ward Creek, Becher's Prairie, and Farwell Canyon area west of Williams Lake between now and Nov. 16, 2012, weather conditions permitting.

The burns are planned for ecosystem restoration purposes. Individual burns will be between 10 and 600 hectares in size.

The largest burn, expected to be about 600 hectares, is in the Ward Creek area north of Gang Ranch. This burn will decrease sagebrush and Douglas-fir encroachment on critical California bighorn sheep habitat along the Fraser River.

Historically, the 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 are natural for 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.

Contact:

Hugh Flinton
Ecosystem Restoration Manager
Cariboo Region
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 267-8746

FACTSHEET

Prescribed burning as an ecosystem management tool

• Fire is a normal, natural process in many of British Columbia's ecosystems. Many species of birds, insects, plants and animals depend on fire for its regenerative properties.
• Fires help control insects and diseases in forests, and lead to forest succession (younger forests replacing older forests) to create a patchwork of forest ages, which support biodiversity.
• Prescribed burning is one of the tools used by forest professionals to achieve certain objectives for land management. For example, using fire is appropriate for habitat enhancement, to improve forage for cattle, deer, bighorn sheep and moose, and to reduce fuel loads for interface fire risk reduction.
• Prescribed burns are carefully planned so that their intensity and size meets the prescribed management objectives for fire maintained ecosystems.
• All prescribed burns must comply with the Environmental Management Act's open burning smoke control regulation, which is in place to minimize the amount of smoke created. For example, burns may be ignited only on days when the venting index indicates smoke will not be trapped close to the ground. The regulation also requires the open flames to be out in 96 hours.
• Prescribed burns are ignited weather-permitting to ensure the fire does not create excessive smoke, and to help ensure the fire does not get out of control. Elements important in determining the date of a burn include the venting index, temperature, humidity and forecast winds.
• Prescribed burns are ignited and continuously monitored and attended by trained crews. The Burn Boss is responsible for making sure prescribed conditions will be met on ignition and to ensure the fire is extinguished to reduce unnecessary smouldering and to ensure it does not reignite.

Contact:

Hugh Flinton
Ecosystem Restoration Manager
Cariboo Region
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 267-8746