Logan Lake has achieved another major goal in its strategy to minimize wildfire threats and protect the community from devastating firestorms, as FireSmart Canada today recognized a decade of hard work with a 2013 Community Protection Achievement.

To earn the designation, Logan Lake was required to raise public awareness of FireSmart principles, undertake fuel management projects and teach private property owners how they can help safeguard their homes and businesses from wildfire.

Since 2005, Logan Lake and the Wildfire Management Branch have completed 21 fuel treatment projects covering 134 hectares, spread over 400 hectares of Crown land. Local crews typically burn 200 piles of brush and wood waste annually, with most of the work being done by hand or through small-scale wood salvaging tenures.

FireSmart Canada is part of the Partners in Protection Association and works closely with communities throughout the country to mitigate wildfire risks in interface areas where urban development borders on forest or grassland areas.

Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart (on behalf of Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson) and District of Logan Lake acting mayor Robin Smith were joined today by Partners in Protection Association executive director Kelly Johnston, Wildfire Management Branch staff and other guests as they acknowledged Logan Lake's commitment to FireSmart principles at a fuel management project site near the municipal campground.

The District of Logan Lake was one of the first local governments in British Columbia to complete a Community Wildfire Protection Plan, with financial support from the provincial government's Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative.

Fuel management decreases the risk of wildfire damage by reducing the amount of waste wood, tree needles, underbrush and other flammable material that could "fuel" a grassland fire or forest fire. This vital work can significantly slow a wildfire's rate of spread and also make a safer environment for first responders to extinguish a blaze.

Fuel reduction treatments may include: removing dead trees; increasing the spacing between live trees; trimming low-hanging tree branches; and removing or burning off vegetation and wood debris.

(flickr.com)

Quotes:

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson -

"The work done by the District of Logan Lake is an outstanding example of how effective fuel management techniques can help protect homes and businesses in interface areas. This community obviously takes that responsibility very seriously and I'd like to congratulate everyone there on a job well done."

Jackie Tegart, Fraser-Nicola MLA -

"The people of this community have clearly demonstrated their commitment to reducing wildfire threats. FireSmart Canada staff have provided excellent advice and guidance over the years and I would like to thank them for officially recognizing Logan Lake's achievements."

Kelly Johnston, executive director of Partners in Protection -

"I'm proud of what Logan Lake residents and community leaders have done to raise awareness of FireSmart principles and reduce wildfire threats in this area. This will be the first community in Canada to receive this recognition since the launch of the FireSmart Communities program in 2012. Other B.C. towns, as well as communities across Canada, are also doing superb work to protect their communities from wildfire and I encourage them to continue those efforts."

Learn More:

FireSmart Canada: https://www.firesmartcanada.ca

Wildfire Management Branch information about the FireSmart Program: http://bcwildfire.ca/Prevention/firesmart.htm

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Brennan Clarke
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261

BACKGROUNDER

Logan Lake celebrated with FireSmart Canada achievement

Logan Lake wildfire risk mitigation:

• Since 2005, the District of Logan Lake and the Wildfire Management Branch have completed 21 fuel treatment projects covering 87.4 hectares of Crown land. (Different types of treatments were done in some of the same areas, so the total number of treated hectares is about 134 hectares.)
• Fuel management crews, including student participants from the SuperKEY program, typically gather up 200 piles of brush and wood waste annually in the Logan Lake. This material is then burned by Wildfire Management Branch crews.
• The District of Logan Lake has achieved all of the goals set out in its original 2004 fire safety plan and is now drafting a new plan to guide the community's activities over the next 10 years

Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative:

• The B.C. government introduced the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative in 2004 to help local governments and First Nations reduce the risk of interface wildfires (where urban development borders on forests and grasslands).
• That year, the provincial and federal governments announced funding of $37 million to help local governments pay for interface wildfire risk mitigation. In April 2011, the provincial government contributed an additional $25 million.
• The Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the Union of B.C. Municipalities and the First Nations' Emergency Services Society of B.C.
• The program supports the development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans and fuel management projects in interface areas. Funding is administered by the Union of B.C. Municipalities, which distributes grants to communities on behalf of the B.C. government.
• The Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative pays for 90 per cent of the project cost, with an annual cap of $400,000 for municipalities and First Nations and an annual cap of $600,000 for regional districts.
• As of Sept. 30, 2013, 260 Community Wildfire Protection Plans had been completed by local governments and First Nations. Another 49 are in progress.
• As of Sept. 30, 2013, completed fuel treatments and risk-reduction efforts have covered more than 50,064 hectares of land in and around communities that face significant wildfire risks. This includes 27,403 hectares of forest affected by the mountain pine beetle.
• Over the next year, the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative will be sponsoring FireSmart Canada community workshops in each of B.C.'s six fire centres. Local governments will also receive training on FireSmart planning and management techniques to reduce the risk of interface fires.

Media Contact:

Brennan Clarke
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261