Prescribed burning is planned for eight locations in the Omineca Region between April 29 and June 7, 2014, weather conditions permitting.

These controlled burns will cover about 7,900 hectares and will meet fuel management objectives and assist with ecosystem restoration. They will occur in several phases, starting at lower elevations in southern areas and proceeding north to higher elevations later this spring.

• The Blackwater-Fraser Ungulate Winter Range burn area covers an estimated 300 hectares, about 70 kilometres south of Prince George.
• The Blackwater-Kluskus burn area covers an estimated 100 hectares, about 100 kilometres southwest of Vanderhoof.
• The Savory Ridge burn area covers an estimated 35 hectares, about 27 kilometres west of Fraser Lake.
• The Euchiniko River burn area covers an estimated 300 hectares, about 70 kilometres southwest of Vanderhoof.
• The Stuart River burn area covers an estimated 300 hectares, about 25 kilometres northeast of Vanderhoof.
• The Ruby Rock burn area covers an estimated 400 hectares, about 75 kilometres northwest of Fort St. James.
• The Bevel Creek burn area covers an estimated 1,500 hectares, about 100 kilometres north of Mackenzie.
• The Ospika burn area covers an estimated 1,600 hectares, about 125 kilometres north of Mackenzie.

These prescribed burns will be conducted by Wildfire Management Branch crews and other staff from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, in collaboration with the Society for Ecosystem Restoration in North Central British Columbia and the Habitat Conservation Foundation.

The reintroduction of managed, low-intensity ground fires to these areas is intended to restore and maintain plant communities that are native to these areas. These managed fires also reduce fuel loads, leading to a decreased risk of wildfires.

More information about the planned ecosystem restoration burns in the Omineca Region is available on the Society for Ecosystem Restoration in North Central British Columbia website: http://www.sernbc.ca/sern_programs&activities.html

A factsheet follows.

Media Contacts:

Jill Kelsh
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Prince George Fire Centre
250 565-6129

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 regeneration, as younger trees replace older trees.
• 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” or better.
• 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:

Jill Kelsh
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Prince George Fire Centre
250 565-6129