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Restoration burn planned for Kootenay River Ranch
The BC Wildfire Service will be supporting the Nature Conservancy of Canada in conducting an ecosystem restoration burn in the Kootenay River Ranch area.
This is a multi-year project with varying sized units, located approximately eight kilometres south of the community of Canal Flats, adjacent to Highway 93/95.
The exact timing of this burn will depend on weather and site conditions, but it could begin as early as Friday, September 18, 2026.
Smoke may be visible from Canal Flats, Fort Steele, and surrounding areas. Smoke may also be noticeable to motorists travelling along Highway 93/95.
Key goals of this prescribed burn include:
- Enhance wildlife habitat
- Support water quality
- Address forest health issues associated with overly dense tree stands
- Reduce the risk of wildfires in the area
This project will likely be implemented by Kootenay ʔa·kinq̓uku TREX participants. Kootenay ʔa·kinq̓uku TREX is a prescribed fire training exchange co-hosted by Ktunaxa Nation and the BC Wildfire Service, with support from the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society and UBCO’s Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program.
Safety is always our top priority and participants in this training exchange will be working alongside experienced BC Wildfire Service staff and with guidance from local partners and project proponents.
Burning will only proceed if conditions are suitable to achieve objectives and allow for appropriate smoke dispersal, though smoke may linger in the following days, particularly the morning after burn operations. Despite all smoke management precautions, unintended smoke impacts are possible after any burn.
For more information on wildfire smoke impacts and how you can protect yourself, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control.
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 fire), to help achieve land management objectives, reduce the severity of future wildfires and increase ecosystem and wildfire resilience.
BC Wildfire Service
