To help reduce the risk of wildfires, the BC Wildfire Service is supporting the Nature Conservancy of Canada in conducting a ecosystem restoration prescribed burn in the Kootenay River Ranch area.

This burn is located approximately eight kilometres south of Canal Flats, adjacent to Highway 93/95, and will cover up to 80 hectares.

The exact timing of this burn will depend on weather and site conditions, but it could begin as early as Monday, September 22.

Smoke may be visible from Canal Flats, Fort Steele, and surrounding communities, and to motorists travelling along Highway 93/95.

Key goals include:

Enhance wildlife habitat;

Support water quality;

Address forest health issues associated with overly dense tree stands;

Reduce the risk of high severity wildfires in the area.

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 achieve land management objectives, reduce the severity of future wildfires and increase ecosystem and wildfire resilience.

These projects are carefully planned and only go ahead at the right times and under the right conditions to ensure community and practitioner safety.

Learn more about prescribed burning online at prescribedfire.ca.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, dial *5555 on a cell phone or call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free. You can also report a wildfire using the BC Wildfire App Report a fire function. Reporting through the app lets you upload images and can be used without service.

Nature Conservancy of Canada file photo

BC Wildfire Service

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