Cultural burn planned for Xet̓ólacw (Mt Currie IR6) area



PEMBERTON – The BC Wildfire Service will be supporting Líl̓wat Nation and Líl̓wat Forestry Ventures in conducting a cultural burn covering up to 34.3 hectares in the Pemberton Zone of the Coastal Fire Centre, directly adjacent to the Xet̓ólacw community of Mount Currie and five kilometres northeast of Pemberton.

Smoke may be visible from from Xet̓ólacw, Owl Ridge, Pemberton and surrounding areas, and to motorists travelling along Highway 99 (Duffey Lake Road).


The exact timing of this burn will depend on suitable weather and site conditions but is anticipated to occur in stages from April to November 2026 . Burning will proceed if conditions allow for smoke dispersal during burn operations, although smoke may also linger in the following days. Depending on conditions, burn operations may be divided into individual sub-units and conducted on separate days.

Key goals of this cultural burn include:

  • Stimulating the growth and occurrence of culturally significant plants
  • Helping to maintain forest health and ecosystem function
  • Returning fire to the land base and revitalizing a long-held, traditional practice
  • Reducing build-up of dead and combustible material, especially fine woody fuels
  • Enhancing wildlife habitat, including ungulate browse quality

Fire is a natural, normal process for many ecosystems in B.C, and the Líl̓wat Nation has utilized fire to nurture the land since time immemorial. The BC Wildfire Service is working with Líl̓wat Nation, Líl̓wat Forestry Ventures, and other partners to help reduce the severity of future wildfires and related threats to communities through the application of planned, intentional fire on the land base. These projects are carefully planned and proceed only under appropriate conditions to prioritize the safety of both communities and fire practitioners.

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
  • habitat enhancement

For many ecosystems throughout B.C., fire plays a key role in maintaining ecological health. Eliminating fire from forests, grasslands and other fire-dependent landscapes can alter ecosystems, affect key species and negatively impact wildlife populations. The primary ecosystem objective for this project is to enhance the abundance of native plants and fungi whose growth is stimulated by fire, improve ungulate browse, and maintain healthy nutrient cycling.

Visit the BC Wildfire Service’s webpage on cultural and prescribed fire (C&Rx) or prescribedfire.ca for more information.

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), exposure to smoke can irritate lungs, cause inflammation, and alter immune function. For more information, including how to reduce your exposure to smoke, visit: BCCDC – Wildfire Smoke

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 tollfree, *5555 on a cell phone, or submit an electronic report through the BC Wildfire public mobile app.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, and more:

Contact:

Fire Information Officer
Coastal Fire Centre | BC Wildfire Service
250-951-4209 | BCWS.CoFCInfo@gov.bc.ca

Jordan Gabriel
Líl̓wat Forestry Ventures
604-894-6145