BC Wildfire Service conducts ecosystem restoration burn in West Arm area north of Nelson
By Nelson Daily Staff
The large plume of smoke coming from the West Arm of Park area north of Nelson Wednesday afternoon is due to BC Wildfire Service and BC Parks conducting a 22-hectare ecosystem restoration burn the Southeast Fire Centre said in a media release.
Smoke could be seen from Nelson and surrounding communities, and to motorists travelling along Highway 3A, from the burn on the land is located about 5.7 kilometres northeast of Nelson.
"All prescribed burns take into account smoke impacts,” the Southeast Fire Centre release said.
“Actions to minimize negative effects are a requirement and included in the burn plan. Trained BC Wildfire Service personnel will monitor this fire at all times.”
Nelson Fire & Rescue Services received numerous calls about the smoke above Nelson Wednesday afternoon.
“Nelson Fire & Rescue would like to assure everyone that there is no threat to any infrastructure or buildings and BC Wildfire has crews monitoring the burn at all times,” Nelson Fire & Rescue Services.
The Southeast Fire Centre said the key goals of this prescribed burn are to preserve park values and include:
- help restore forest health and properly functioning forest conditions
- delay the growth of shrub species that compete with tree seedlings
- reduce accumulations of dead and combustible material, and
- decrease the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the area
The Southeast Fire Centre said 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.
Learn more about prescribed burning online: http://ow.ly/20Su50Ax89j
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 tollfree or *5555 on a cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air-quality advisories, visit: http://www.bcwildfire.ca
The controlled burn began smoking at approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.
