Home »
Wildfire Fuel Reduction Program underway
The District of Elkford 2012-2013 Union of B.C. Municipalities-funded Wildfire Fuel Reduction Program is underway.
The program will carry out forestry work to reduce the threat of forest fires, and will focus on priority areas that have been identified for tree removal or modification based on the district’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
The program has been planned to reduce hazards to the public, and the risks of forest fires.
The Director, Fire Rescue and Emergency Services and the contractor will present information, and answer any questions before and during the fuel treatments planned for this fall.
The contractors will use hand and machine methods for fuel treatments. Performing these operations in the fall and winter will avoid bird nesting season and the fire hazards of the summer months. As the treatments are being implemented mostly by hand there will be minimal impact on aesthetic values.
The contract specifies returning all trails and access to pre-treatment condition. Debris from the treatments will be piled and burned on site to reduce the impacts to the site and recreational users. As well, wood locations will be established for residents to acquire firewood for their own use. The treatments are following an approved geotechnical survey which will ensure slope stability by lessening the prescription in steep slope areas.
Maps showing the planned work areas will be posted on the district’s website. Residents living next to planned work areas will receive an information package.
Residents are reminded that each area is closed during treatment operations. Residents are asked to avoid these locations when crews are working, as safety hazards exist.
Treatments in areas shown below are summarized as:
Block 1: 5.3 ha – Thin from below to 300-700 stems per hectare;
Block 5: 9.6 ha- Complete removal of Pole Sapling pine and other species. Retain mature healthy trees;
Block 6: 2.2 ha – Complete removal of Pole Sapling pine and other species. Retain mature healthy trees.
District of Elkford
