The N’Quatqua Band Council and the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of B.C. will be conducting a prescribed burn near D’Arcy (about 27 kilometres northeast of Pemberton) on Wednesday, June 8, 2016.

Smoke from this controlled burn will be visible from the community of D’Arcy, the Devine area and the northern portion of Pemberton Portage Rd. Burning will take place only if site conditions are favourable and weather conditions will allow the smoke to dissipate quickly.

Crews from the BC Wildfire Service will be on site to monitor the fire and conduct training exercises. 

This prescribed burn is part of an ongoing fuel management project that started in 2014. Funding for these projects was provided by the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative.

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 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: www.facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

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