Courtesy of the BC Wildfire Service:
The B.C. Wildfire Service will conduct an ecosystem restoration burn at the north end of Cotton Road near Riske Creek and Tl’esqox First Nation. This burn will cover approximately 25 hectares of grassland.
Preparation for this project, including small scale burns to establish control lines, will begin as early as September 12, 2024. Burning may begin as early as September 13, 2024, and may continue periodically until September 20, 2024. The exact timing of the burn will be dependent on weather, site and venting conditions. Ignitions will proceed only if conditions are suitable and allow for quick smoke dissipation. Smoke and flames will be highly visible to motorists travelling along Highway 20, and may be visible to surrounding residences.
The objectives of this prescribed burn are to:
Improve and restore open grasslands by reducing encroachment from trees and shrubs,
consume slashed material,
improve the grassland forage for future wildlife and cattle grazing and,
This prescribed burn is part of an ongoing ecosystem restoration program administered in consultation with First Nations and local ranchers. B.C. Wildfire Service staff will carefully prepare, control, and monitor the prescribed burn at all times.
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 reduce the severity of future wildfires and related threats to communities. Historically, grasslands in the Cariboo-Chilcotin were renewed and maintained through frequent, low-intensity ground fires. Such fires prevented tree encroachment, rejuvenated understory plants and helped maintain more open grasslands and forests with large trees.
Learn more about prescribed burning online at prescribedfire.ca
