The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is planning to conduct over 30 prescribed burns at multiple locations in the Peace Region between April 20 and June 7, weather conditions permitting.

These controlled burns will cover about 10,000 hectares and will help meet wildlife management objectives by improving winter range for ungulates (e.g., moose, deer and elk) and promoting the growth of high-quality forage. The introduction of high-intensity prescribed burns in the spring is intended to help restore natural grasslands and early seral habitat.

The burns will occur in several stages, depending on site readiness and weather conditions. The proposed burn sites include:

• Bear Flat and Wilder Creek, 15 km west of Fort St. John (about 500 hectares)
• Red Creek, 25 km west of Fort St. John (about 100 hectares)
• Moberly River, southwest of Fort St. John (about 2,000 hectares)
• Pine River, 32 km southwest of Fort St. John (about 1,000 hectares)
• Coldstream Creek, 30 km east of Chetwynd (about 1,000 hectares)

These prescribed burns and others may be visible from nearby communities such as Fort St. John, Chetwynd and Hudson’s Hope. They will be completed by the ministry’s Wildlife Branch, in partnership with the Wildfire Management Branch.

Trained wildfire personnel will carefully monitor the fires at all times.

Funding for this project has been provided by the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, the North Peace Rod and Gun Club, the Northern B.C. Guides Association and the Northeast B.C. Wildlife Fund.

Media Contacts:

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