CLINTON - Smoke and flames from a prescribed burn may be visible north of the Village of Clinton and west of Highway 97 from April 1-11, 2014.

The Village of Clinton’s volunteer fire department is conducting this 40-hectare controlled burn with the assistance of Cariboo Fire Centre personnel. The exact timing of the burn will depend on weather and site conditions.

This prescribed burn will help maintain a fuel management project that was completed in 2009. The goal is to reduce the threat of an interface wildfire near the Village of Clinton by reducing the amount of wood debris and other combustible material in grasslands and open forest areas. Removal of forest fuels helps slow the spread of wildfires and will provide firefighters with a safer work environment during any future fire suppression operations.

Prescribed burns mimic naturally occurring ground fires. The burn will proceed only if weather and fire behaviour conditions are suitable and will allow for quick smoke dissipation and low to moderate fire intensity.

Trained wildfire personnel will carefully monitor the fire at all times. Fire control and suppression actions will meet the objectives of the prescribed burn. Wildfire Management Branch staff often help local governments conduct fuel management work.

For information on fuel management and the FireSmart fire prevention program, please visit: www.bcwildfire.ca

A factsheet follows.

Media Contacts:

Emily Koch
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Cariboo Fire Centre
250 989-2665

FACTSHEET

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 creates 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 also can 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.”

• All prescribed burns must comply with the Environmental Management Act and the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation. This 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 Contacts:

Emily Koch
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Cariboo Fire Centre
250 989-2665