Prescribed burn planned for N’Quatqua (D’Arcy, B.C.) area



LOWER HAYLMORE CREEK – The BC Wildfire Service will be assisting N’Quatqua and the Sea to Sky Resource District in conducting a prescribed burn covering up to 11.2 hectares in the Pemberton Zone of the Coastal Fire Centre, about two kilometres east of D’Arcy, on the southeast side of Smáxen (Anderson Lake).

Smoke may be visible from D’Arcy, Devine, Birken and surrounding areas, and to motorists travelling along Pemberton-Portage Rd. and the Highline and Haylmore Creek FSRs.

The exact timing of this burn will depend on weather and site conditions, but it could begin as early as Monday, April 13th. Burning will proceed if conditions are suitable and allow for smoke dispersal during burn operations, though smoke may also linger in the following days.

Key goals of this prescribed burn include:

  • Maintenance of forest health and a properly functioning ecosystem
  • Reducing build-up of dead and combustible material, especially fine woody fuels
  • Enhancing native plants of cultural importance to N’Quatqua
  • Enhancing wildlife habitat
  • Enhancing firefighter safety and efficacy in the event of a future wildfire in the area

Fire is a normal and natural process in many of B.C.’s ecosystems, and N’Quatqua has utilized fire to nurture the land since time immemorial. The BC Wildfire Service is working with N’Quatqua, the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District, and other partners to undertake fuel management activities (including the use of controlled burns) in the D’Arcy area, to help reduce the severity of future wildfires and related threats to communities. These projects are carefully planned and only go ahead at the right times and under the right conditions to ensure community and practitioner safety.

Cultural burning is a practice that has existed for millennia. It holds different meanings for different Indigenous communities but is often defined as the controlled application of fire on the landscape to achieve specific cultural objectives. Common objectives for cultural burning include but are not limited to cultural and language preservation, food and medicinal plant revitalization, and habitat enhancement.

Fire has always been part of the natural landscape and many ecosystems have adapted to and need fire to remain healthy. Controlled fires can play a key role in keeping ecosystems healthy. Some of the benefits that can be achieved with controlled fire include encouraging the growth of fire-adapted native vegetation, returning nutrients to the soil, reducing competition from invasive species and reducing forest or understory density, which can in turn make ecosystems more resilient against severe wildfires. The primary ecosystem objective for this project is stimulating the regeneration of native plants that have reduced abundance due to fire exclusion.

Fire benefits numerous wildlife species and is even required for some animals to survive. Eliminating fire from forests, grasslands and other landscapes can cause ecosystem changes that affect key species, negatively impacting wildlife populations. Controlled fire can bring back wildlife food sources, maintain areas required for travel and loafing, and bring balance to food chains and species.

Visit the BC Wildfire Service Cultural and Prescribed Fire webpage and prescribedfire.ca for more information.

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

  • 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
  • Reduce the length and intensity of outdoor activities
  • Manage pre-existing conditions and seek medical care if you have severe symptoms

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

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 tollfree or *5555 on a cell phone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air-quality advisories, visit: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

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Contact:

BC Wildfire Service
Fire Information Officer
Coastal Fire Centre
250-951-4209

Sea to Sky Natural Resource District Ministry of Forests FOR.SeaToSky@gov.bc.ca 604-898-2100