Kamloops Fire Centre 2016.03.23

Controlled burning is a vital step to preparing for fire season. Another wildfire season is almost upon us and fire prevention and public education activities already underway. Unit crew leaders have undergone fitness testing and fire-fighters will soon follow suit. At this time of year, controlled burning is one of the primary fire prevention methods. Forest litter that has accumulated during the fall and winter months will soon be snow-free and will begin to dry out. This increases the risk of early-season wildfires. Crews will also advantage of the remaining snow cover and safe weather conditions to clear ladder

fuels and burn slash piles in areas that could become high-risk in the coming months. Planning a burn Resource managers need to have a sound understanding of fire behav-iour and its short-term and long-term effects on the environment. In addition, different ecosystems and plant species respond to fire in different ways. Optimum burning conditions are needed. Controlled burns are to minimize smoke transmission to areas where people live.

Firefighters from the Kamloops Zone supported a controlled burn conducted by

the City of Kamloops in Kenna Cartwright Nature Park.

WHAT IS A HECTARE?

When it comes to wildfires,

size can be an important is-

sue. The BC Wildfire Service

keeps track of how big a fire

is by recording the number

of hectares consumed.

1 hectare (ha) is a metric

unit that equals 10,000 m2,

1 hectare equals 2.47 acres.

1 hectare is about the size of

an average public sports

field.

WHO TO CALL IF . . .

I need to report a wildfire: 1

800 663-5555 (*5555 on a

cellphone)

I want to conduct a Category

3 burn: 1 888 797-1717

I already have a burn regis-

tration number and I want to

know the venting index in

my area: 1 877 6637867

I want more information on

wildfire news, burning re-

strictions and fire bans: 1

888 336-7378

I want to report an open

burning smoke violation: 1

877 952-7277

P A G E 2

BC WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Implementation of the B.C. Wildland Fire Manage-ment Strategy will result in healthier forest and range ecosystems; communities that are less at risk from fire and smoke; and a more cost-effective fire suppression program. This will be achieved by adopting a proactive approach:

1. Reduce fire hazards and risks (particularly in and around communities and other high-value areas).

2. Carefully use controlled burning where the bene-fits are clearly defined and the risks can be cost-effectively managed.

3. Monitor and manage, rather than suppress, fires that are of minimal risk to communities, infrastruc-ture or resource values.

4. Implement land, natural resource and community planning that incorporates management of wildland fire at all appropriate scales

5. Develop a high level of public awareness and sup-port for wildland fire management.

These measures, combined with our continuing commitment to aggressive action against unwanted fire, will help lead the world in sustainable environ-mental management, with the best air and water quality, and the best fisheries management bar none.

More than 50 per cent of the provinces landmass is covered by natural forest and rangelands. These ecosystems are critical for maintaining clean air and water, and provide a wide variety of commercial and non-commercial goods and services important to the people and the economy of B.C.

Fire is a natural and essential ecological process in most of B.C.s forests and rangeland. However, it

can also have undesirable social and economic im-pacts, threatening human health, safety and proper-ty. Balancing the potential benefits and risks of wildland fire is a complex task for land managers, natural resource managers and fire managers. It is also a task that is vital to public safety and the sus-tainable management of forests and rangelands in the province.

It is not possible or desirable to exclude all fire from the forest and range environment, but to protect communities, infrastructure and natural resources from fire damage. Two interdependent components of the Provinces approach to wildland fire: proac-tive fire management (addressed by this Strategy); and aggressive fire suppression.

A fire an appropriate distance from important re-

sources and inhabited areas can be beneficial.

A BCWS firefighter removes a danger tree

Prescribed burn projects scheduled in Lyt-ton area KAMLOOPSThe Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is planning to conduct five prescribed burns in the Lillooet Fire Zone. These controlled burns are sched-uled to start on March 7, 2016, and conclude by April 25, 2016. The exact timing of the burns will depend on weather and site conditions. They will proceed only if fire behaviour conditions are suitable and will allow for quick smoke dissipation and low to moderate fire intensity. The burns will reduce wildfire risks for resi-dents in nearby areas, while helping to restore elk habitat. Smoke will be visible from the Vil-lage of Lytton, the Gladwin community, Kum-sheen Rafting Resort, Skuppah First Nation, Sis-ka First Nation, Highway 1 and Highway 12. Trained wildfire crews will carefully monitor these controlled fires: - The 11.8-hectare Mill Burn is planned to take place 2.5 kilometres south of Lytton. - The Spencer Road burn will cover 14.3 hec-tares west of the Fraser River and the Village of Lytton.

- The BC Wildfire Service is working with the Village of Lytton to conduct a 2.6-hectare controlled burn next to Kumsheen Secondary school. - The 21.3-hectare Loring Way burn is planned to take place 2.8 kilometres south of Lytton and east of Highway 1. - The 36.9-hectare Kumsheen Rafting Resort burn is planned to take place 3.5 kilometres northeast of the Village of Lytton, adjacent to Highway 1 and across from Kumsheen Rafting Resort. The goal of these burns is to mimic naturally occurring ground fires and reduce the level of dead and combustible material in grassland and open forest areas. Removal of these forest fuels helps reduce the threat of interface wild-fires. Fire can also discourage insect infesta-tions and help fire-adapted plant species repro-duce. To report a wildfire, please call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free, or *5555 on a cellphone. Follow the latest B.C. wildfire news:

CONTACT

Max Birkner Fire Information Officer BC Wildfire Service Kamloops Fire Centre 250 554-5964 (office) 250 318-7456 (cell)

A prescribed fire burns near Lytton in 2015.

Kamloops Fire Centre

CLEARWATER The Ray Farm burn is a semi-annual burn in Wells Gray Pro-vincial Park. The intent of the burn is to maintain the rare open meadow complex around the historical Ray Farm and mineral springs by killing conifer seedlings that are spreading into the meadows. Typically, BC Parks staff and fire zone staff do hand ignition of the meadows with minimal mop-up. Measures are taken to protect the historic homestead build-ings. Public access into this area of the park is normally still closed when the burn occurs. The Peddie burn will remove cedar and hemlock logging slash. BC Timber Sales has asked for assistance in completing this burn. The Clearwater Fire Zone is assisting with plan-ning , ignition and possibly mop up. KAMLOOPS Kenna Cartwright burn: The City of Kamloops is conducting a burn in Kenna Cartwright Nature Park with support from the BC Wildfire Service. The burn will cover 15 hectares and smoke will be visible from Kamloops, and from highways leading into the city. The City of Kamloops is conducting the burn to reduce the risk of interface fires. The Upper Hat Creek Ranch burn will cover 400 hectares and is being conducted by the Thompson Rivers Resource District, with support from the BC Wildfire Service. The intent of the burn is to improve habitat and range throughout the area. VERNON The South Fork burn, east of Cherryville, will be a 15-hectare eco-system restoration burn. It will be visible from Cherryville and Highway 6. The Satellite Hill burn south of Lumby is an eco-restoration burn that will cover 80 hectares and will be visible from Lumby, Coldstream, Vernon and High-way 6. MERRIT The Monck Provincial Park burn will be an eight-hectare eco-system restoration burn that will be visible from Nicola Lakeshore Estates, residences west of the park (along or near Monck Park Road) and Highway 5A.

Adam Buchanan (left) and Hamish Dellow initiate a

controlled burn.

BC Wildfire Service firefighter Tyler Jackson watches a controlled burn at Kenna Cart-

wright Nature Park. Firefighters monitor burns to ensure that they do not escape.

P A G E 5

Kamloops Fire Centre Indices

The FFMC (Fine Fuel Moisture Code) is a

code that measures the dryness of fine fuels

(grasses, needles, etc.). A number of 85 or

higher indicates a good chance of a fire start

from an ignition source. Once 90 or higher is

reached, all the fine fuels are available to

burn.

The DMC (Duff Moisture Code) measures

about 10 cm into the ground and is an indica-

tion of whether a fire that starts will continue

to burn in the duff. A number of 40 or great-

er would indicate that a fire will continue to

burn.

The DC is the Drought Code, measuring

deeper in the ground. A number of 300 or

greater indicates that the fire will burn deep

into the ground, providing challenges to mop

it up.

The Danger Class is the typical Fire Danger

Rating that is seen on fire signage, where 1

and 2 represent low, 3 is moderate, 4 is

high and 5 is extreme.

Want more information? Visit the website at bcwildfire.ca

Important Numbers Report a Wildfire *5555 on a cell or 1 800 663-5555

Wildfire Information Line 1 888 3FOREST (336-7378)

Burn Registration Line 1 888 797-1717

Kamloops Fire Centre 250 554-5500

Media and Public Line 250 554-5965