QUESNEL – The Quesnel Natural Resource District, in partnership with BC Wildfire Service will be conducting a wildfire risk reduction project north of Ten Mile Lake, within Kostas Cove Park.

When and where

• Work on this project may start as early as Monday, March 2, 2026, continuing through Saturday, May 30, 2026.
• The project includes one treatment area, covering a total of 2.29 hectares within Kostas Cove Park, north of Ten Mile Lake adjacent to Bjornson Road.

What to expect

• Crews will be using chainsaws and hand tools to create gaps between the larger, mature timber and the smaller understory trees.
• Understory trees, less than 12.5 centemetres in diameter, will be thinned and branches on residual conifers will be pruned up to 3 metres, or up to 50 per cent of their height, whichever is less.
• Wildlife trees, deciduous trees and coarse woody debris will be retained to protect wildlife habitat.
• Piles no larger than two metres by three metres will created. The piles will be burned in the spring or fall when conditions are appropriate.
  • Crews will ignite burn piles using hand torches under favourable conditions and will closely monitor all fire activity. Burning may occur over multiple days, as weather and site conditions allow.
  • Personnel will remain on-site each day to ensure fires are controlled and will only leave once the fires have safely burned down and no longer pose a risk of spreading.
  • Fires will continue to be monitored and extinguished once burning is complete.
• Smoke and flames will be visible to surrounding residents and to motorists travelling along Bjornson Road.
• The boundary of the treatment area is marked with orange ribbon on trees, branches and fences.
• This project does not include private property.

Objectives of this wildfire risk reduction project

• Reduce wildfire risk around Ten Mile Lake residences and surrounding areas.
• Strategically remove fuels, reducing the ability of wildfire to spread from ground to canopy and reducing overall intensity of a potential wildfire.
• Support ongoing Wildfire Risk Reduction projects within the Quesnel district and area.

Learn more

Fire is a natural process in many of B.C.’s ecosystems. The BC Wildfire Service works regularly with land managers to undertake fuel management activities, including the use of prescribed burns and wildfire risk reduction projects, to help reduce the severity of future wildfires and related threats to communities.

Minimizing health impacts from smoke

Exposure to smoke from wildfires or prescribed burning can irritate eyes and respiratory tracts and worsen pre-existing lung and heart conditions. If your area is impacted by smoke:

• Manage pre-existing conditions, and seek medical care if you have severe symptoms.
• Reduce the length and intensity of outdoor activities.
• Run portable air cleaners with windows and doors closed. Both commercial and home-made units (https://rb.gy/90uh5s) can be effective if operated properly.

Learn about protecting your health from smoke online: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/prevention-public-health/wildfire-smoke

Contact

Tyrone Green, RFT
Land and Resource Coordinator
Quesnel Natural Resource District
Phone: 236-713-2285
Email: tyrone.green@gov.bc.ca

Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect