LILLOOET – The BC Wildfire Service will be supporting (Xwísten) in conducting a cultural burn project in the Bridge River Band area, approximately seven kilometres northwest of Lillooet.

This burn will be approximately 151 hectares in size and is expected to begin as early as mid-March if conditions allow. Personnel will utilize aerial, traditional and hand ignition tactics. Smoke may be visible to the Municipality of Lillooet, Fountain I.R. and Yalakom community area.

The purpose of this burn is to reduce hazardous fuels for community protection and reintroduce fire to the landscape and ecosystem. This will create space for native grasses and herbs to establish, renew shoots and stimulate berry production in shrubs for animals and humans. The burn area for this project will connect to past burns, making up a larger zone of defensible space and culturally significant area.

This cultural burn will be controlled and closely monitored by personnel from Xwísten Bridge River Band, First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of BC (FNESS), the Xwísten Volunteer Fire Department, contractors and the BC Wildfire Service.

Learn More:

For more information on the importance of cultural burning and prescribed fire, please visit prescribedfire.ca.

Contact:

Moon Moore
Xwísten (PIO)
250 256-7523
Moon.moore@outlook.com

David McKay
Xwísten FireSmart Coordinator
778 209-3774
firesmart@xwisten.ca

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