CASTLEGAR – To help reduce wildfire threats, the BC Wildfire Service will be supporting the Rocky Mountain Resource District in the operations of conducting a prescribed burn covering up to 49 hectares.
This burn is within the vicinity of the City of Cranbrook and is a part of the broader landscape level fuel break being developed for wildfire risk reduction purposes.
The exact timing of burn operations will depend on weather and site conditions, but could begin as early as Friday, September 20, 2024.
Key goals of this prescribed burn include:
- Contribute to the broader fuel break for the City of Cranbrook
- Reduce the accumulation of woody debris and other fuels
- Reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires for the community
Smoke may impact the residents near the burn area and will be highly visible from Cranbrook and surrounding communities, particularly the Westview, and Hidden Valley areas. Smoke will also be visible to motorists travelling along Highway 93, Highway 95A, and Highway 3.
Burning will proceed if conditions are suitable to achieve objectives and allow for smoke dispersal, though smoke may linger in the following days, particularly the morning after burn operations. Despite all precautions to manage it, unintended smoke impacts are possible after any burn.
Fire is a normal and 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), to help reduce the severity of future wildfires and related threats to communities. Learn more about prescribed burning online: www.prescribedfire.ca.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air-quality advisories, visit: www.bcwildfire.ca.
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Contact:
Fire Information Officer
BC Wildfire Service
Southeast Fire Centre
250 318-7715
bcws.sefcinformationofficer@gov.bc.ca
Casie (KC) Gano
Resource Operations Specialist – Wildfire Risk Reduction
Rocky Mountain Resource District
250 420-6220
casie.gano@gov.bc.ca