BC Parks, the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and the BC Wildfire Service will be conducting a 45-hectare ecosystem restoration burn west of Tulip Creek in Syringa Provincial Park.

The controlled burning will occur between March 28 and April 29, 2016, but timing is dependent on weather conditions and site conditions. During the burn, smoke may be visible from Castlegar and surrounding communities.

Trained BC Wildfire Service personnel will carefully monitor the fires at all times. During the burn period and the following evening, smoke may affect traffic on the Deer Creek Forest Service Road. Flag personnel will be onsite when heavy smoke is present to ensure the safety of motorists.

Historically, grasslands and an open forest canopy have been maintained in the West Kootenay region through frequent, low-intensity ground fires. The objective of this controlled burn is to rejuvenate the shrub, herb and grass layer, which will restore winter habitat for mule deer, elk and bighorn sheep, improve overall biodiversity, create a more open forest and increase the availability of nutrients. The overall reduction in fuel loads will also decrease the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

Fire is a natural, normal process in many ecosystems and is beneficial for maintaining a healthy forest and a diversity of plant and animal life. Many plants and animals have adapted to fire and some actually depend on it to reproduce.

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.

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air-quality advisories, visit: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news:

• On Twitter: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo  
• On Facebook: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

A factsheet about prescribed burns and ecosystem restoration burns is available online: http://bit.ly/1haDzED

For news and information about BC Parks, visit: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/