The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development plans to conduct two prescribed burns in the Lillooet Fire Zone over the next few weeks, to help reduce wildfire threats in the area.

The burns are scheduled to take place between Tuesday, March 20 and Sunday, April 15, 2018:

• Highway 1 project – This burn will cover five hectares, south of the Village of Lytton and next to the Trans-Canada Highway.
• Kumsheen project – This burn will cover 36 hectares, about 3.5 kilometres northeast of the Village of Lytton on Crown land next to the Trans-Canada Highway.

Trained wildfire crews will carefully control and monitor the fires at all times. Smoke and flames may be visible from Lytton, Gladwin, Lytton First Nation, Kumsheen Rafting Resort, Skuppah First Nation, Siska First Nation, Highway 1 and Highway 12. For information about road conditions near these projects, please visit www.drivebc.ca

The exact timing of these prescribed burns will depend on weather and site conditions. They will proceed only if conditions are suitable, and will allow for quick smoke dissipation and low to moderate fire intensity.

The goal of these burns is to reduce the level of combustible material in the area by mimicking a naturally occurring ground fire. The removal of these fuels helps reduce the threat of interface wildfires.

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

You can follow the latest B.C. wildfire news:

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

Learn More:

A factsheet about prescribed burns and ecosystem restoration burns is available online: http://ow.ly/E8Ue30br7OY