The N’Quatqua Band Council and the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of B.C. will be conducting a series of prescribed burns near D’Arcy, about 27 kilometres northeast of Pemberton, between April 18 and May 20, 2016.

These controlled burns will cover about 12 hectares. Smoke will be visible from the community of D’Arcy, the Devine area and the northern portion of Pemberton Portage Road.

Crews from the BC Wildfire Service will be assisting with this project and will carefully monitor the fires at all times. Burning will take place only if site conditions are favourable and weather conditions will allow smoke to dissipate quickly.

This is the final stage of an ongoing fuel management project that started in 2014.

These prescribed fires will mimic naturally occurring ground fires by burning the forest understory, leaving larger trees intact and restoring open forest conditions. Reducing the amount of dead and combustible material in grassland and open forest areas will also decrease the potential for intense wildfire behaviour in those areas and help protect a nearby communications tower in the event of a naturally occurring wildfire.

The N’Quatqua First Nations did low-intensity burning in this area in the past and this year’s project will also help return local ecosystems to a more natural state. The reintroduction of fire will improve biodiversity by encouraging the growth of deciduous shrubs, herbs and grasses, enhancing berry production and improving wildlife habitat.

Photos of this prescribed burn project will be posted on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

A factsheet about prescribed burns and ecosystem restoration burns is available online at: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/prescribed-burns-and-ecosystem-restoration-burns

Funding for these prescribed burns was provided by the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative, which is administered by the Union of B.C. Municipalities. The B.C. government introduced the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative to help local governments and First Nations reduce the risk of interface wildfires, where urban development borders on forests and grasslands.

Since 2004, the B.C. government has provided $78 million to the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative, including $15 million in 2015.