PRINCE GEORGE - The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations plans to conduct a series of prescribed burns in 19 Peace Region locations between May 8 and June 7, 2014, weather conditions permitting.

These controlled burns will cover approximately 47,000 hectares and will meet wildlife management objectives by improving conditions for high-quality forage and winter range for ungulates (hooved animals such as moose, elk and deer).

The proposed burns will occur in several stages, depending on site readiness and weather conditions. The burn sites (listed with approximate areas) include:

• Muskwa River (selected portions of a 3,092-hectare area)
• Chischa River-Chlotapecta Creek (selected portions of a 8,938-hectare area)
• Liard River-Nordquist (selected portions of a 1,000-hectare area)
• Sulphur Creek (selected portions of a 2,328-hectare area)
• Eight Mile Creek (selected portions of a 2,890-hectare area)
• Dunedin River (selected portions of a 4,480-hectare area)
• Mount Skook and Winston Mountain (selected portions of a 1,165-hectare area)
• Rabbit River (selected portions of a 4,000-hectare area)
• Chee Mountain (selected portions of a 2,455-hectare area)
• Sandpile Creek (selected portions of a 1,000-hectare area)
• Snake Creek-Bear Mountain (selected portions of a 1,103-hectare area)
• Trimble Lake (selected portions of a 491-hectare area)
• Besa River-Redfern-Keily Creek (selected portions of a 2,072-hectare area)
• Graham River (selected portions of a 1,600-hectare area)
• Chowade River (selected portions of a 3,842-hectare area)
• Frog River (selected portions of a 4,484-hectare area)
• Farrell Creek (selected portions of a 441-hectare area)
• Belcourt Creek-Nekik Mountain (selected portions of a 1,500-hectare area)
• Dunlevy-Aylard-Branham (selected portions of a 1,552-hectare area)

High-intensity prescribed burns in the spring are intended to restore grasslands and other natural habitats to promote the growth of high-quality forage in important ungulate winter ranges that support a variety of species, including Stone’s sheep, mountain goat, mule deer, elk, moose and wood bison.

The prescribed burns will be conducted by wildlife staff and Wildfire Management Branch personnel from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Funding for this project has been provided by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the North Peace Rod and Gun Club, the Northern B.C. Guides Association and the Northeast B.C. Wildlife Fund.

Media Contacts:

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