The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, with the support of its Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program partners, will be conducting an ecosystem restoration burn on Rabbit Mountain on Friday, April 8, 2016, weather permitting.

Smoke from this controlled burn will be visible from the community of Elko and surrounding areas, and from Highway 3 and Highway 93. Trained BC Wildfire Service personnel will carefully monitor this burn at all times.

Rabbit Mountain, southwest of Elko:

• The 80-hectare controlled burn on Rabbit Mountain is part of an ecosystem restoration prescription for multiple areas within the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District.
• This year’s controlled burn is tied into previous fuel reduction projects in the region. It will help rejuvenate the shrub and grass layer, reduce fuel loads, and decrease the risk of catastrophic wildfires for the community of Elko and a nearby sawmill.
• During the burn period and the following evening, smoke may affect traffic on Highway 3 and Highway 93. Traffic control services and highway signs will be in place.

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 at: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo 
• Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Learn More:

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

Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program: http://trench-er.com