A prescribed burn covering approximately 602 hectares in the Baynes Lake area is planned between tomorrow, Thursday, April 25 and Monday, April 30, if weather and burning conditions are suitable.

This prescribed burn is being conducted for ecosystem restoration purposes on Fusee North/West Alpha pastureland northeast of the community of Baynes Lake, south of Kikomun Road and northeast of Baynes Lake Dump Road, noted the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development and BC Wildfire Service.

Smoke from this fire may be visible from Baynes Lake, Elko, Jaffray and surrounding communities.

The burn is being done by the Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program and the BC Wildfire Service.

Historically, forests in the Rocky Mountain Trench were renewed through frequent, low-intensity ground fires. Such fires removed understory plants and resulted in a relatively open forest with large, healthy trees. The reintroduction of managed, low-intensity ground fires is intended to restore and maintain native plant communities and improve wildlife habitat and cattle forage, the ministry explained.

These types of prescribed fires also reduce accumulations of wood debris and other flammable material, which will help decrease the risk of significant wildfires in these areas in the future.

The Baynes Lake prescribed burn is part of an ongoing restoration program involving the Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program, the B.C. government and non-government organizations.

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