The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations will be conducting a series of controlled burns in the Southeast Fire Centre to enhance wildlife habitat. These burns will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 31 and Thursday Sept. 1, 2016.

These types of resource management open burns are done under the authority of the Wildfire Act. The fires will follow a clearly defined burn plan and will only be lit if site and weather conditions are suitable. All prescribed burns must comply with the Environmental Management Act and the open burning smoke control regulation. This helps minimize the amount of smoke that’s generated.

Highly trained BC Wildfire Service firefighters and ignition specialists will conduct these burns. Once the controlled fires are ignited, they will be allowed to burn out naturally but will be carefully monitored by BC Wildfire Service staff at all times.

South face of Raymond Creek and Donald Creek drainage areas (Wednesday, Aug. 31):

• The 500-hectare controlled burn in the Raymond Creek and Donald Creek drainage areas (about 10 kilometres east of Baynes Lake) is part of a habitat enhancement prescription within the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District.
• Smoke from this controlled burn may be visible from the communities of Elko, Grasmere, Baynes Lake and surrounding areas, and from Highway 95.
• This high-elevation burn will reduce forest encroachment, enhance wildlife corridors, rejuvenate the shrub and grass layers, reduce fuel loads and achieve visual quality objectives.  
• This project is funded by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.

Estella Mine site and Wolf Creek area (Thursday, Sept. 1):

• The 170-hectare controlled burn on the Estella Mine site (about 27 kilometres northeast of Kimberley) and the 300-hectare controlled burn in the Wolf Creek area (about eight kilometres from the Estella Mine site) are part of a habitat enhancement prescription within the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District.
• Smoke from these controlled burns may be visible from the communities of Wasa, Lazy Lake, Ta Ta Creek, Skookumchuck, Premier Lake, Kimberley, Fort Steele and surrounding areas, and from Highway 95.
• These high-elevation burns will reduce forest encroachment, enhance wildlife corridors, rejuvenate the shrub and grass layers, reduce fuel loads and achieve visual quality objectives. 
• This project is funded by the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, 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://ow.ly/RTiN303JR6T