Silvern Gathering Area cultural burn planned west of Smithers



SMITHERS – The BC Wildfire Service will be supporting the Wetzin’kwa Community Forest in partnership with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en conducting a cultural burn covering up to 14.2 hectares, located in the Northwest Fire Centre approximately 23 km west of Smithers along the McDonell Lake FSR, located on the southern side of Hudson Bay Mountain.

Smoke may be visible from Smithers, Telkwa and the surrounding communities, and to motorists travelling along Highway 16.

The exact timing of this burn will depend on weather and site conditions, but it could begin as early as Mon. May 3 to Sun. May 31. Burning will proceed if conditions are appropriate to ensure safety, meet objectives and allow for adequate smoke dispersal during burn operations, though smoke may also linger in the following days.

Key goals of this cultural burn include:

  • To bring back culturally important food and medicinal plants that have been shaded out by encroaching shrubs and trees
  • To provide an opportunity to bring fire back onto Wet’suwet’en Yintah (territory), building experience and capacity for Wet’suwet’en fire practitioners and support land-based learning
  • Reduce the density of conifers to enhance culturally valued ecosystem components, including northern rice root (F. camschatcensis), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), and native grasses through the use of low to moderate intensity surface fire
  • Reduce hazardous fine fuels (primarily cured grasses and forbs) to improve firefighter access and safety in the event of a future wildfire through the use of low to moderate surface fire

Fire is a normal and natural process in many of B.C.’s ecosystems. The BC Wildfire Service works regularly with a range of partners to undertake fuel management activities, 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.  

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

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
Northwest Fire Centre
Fire Information Officer
250-876-6844

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