A series of prescribed burns is planned for the Bevel Creek, Ospika River, Tobin Lake and Mt. Moodie areas in the Mackenzie Natural Resource District from May 1 to May 31, 2015, weather conditions permitting.

These controlled burns will cover about 10,300 hectares, 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 Bevel Creek burn areas are about 100 kilometres north of Mackenzie and cover about 7,800 hectares.
• The Ospika River, Tobin Lake and Mt. Moodie burn areas are about 125 kilometres north of Mackenzie and cover about 2,500 hectares.

These prescribed burns will be conducted by ministry staff, in collaboration with Finlay River Outfitters, Wildlife Infometrics, Tsay Keh Dene First Nations, the Society for Ecosystem Restoration in North Central British Columbia and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.

The reintroduction of managed 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 these 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 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 ignited only 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 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