The City of Nelson is undertaking a wilfire mitigation project this spring on 3.4 hectares of forested land near the Selkirk College Silver King campus.
The work is part of the City’s ongoing wildfire risk reduction efforts and will be funded fully through the provincial Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) program.
The city says wildfire mitigation projects like this help reduce the potential for intense wildfires, while making it safer and more efficient for suppression crews to respond to any fires that do start.
The fuel treatment will reduce the fire risk in the following ways as prescribed by a registered professional forester:
- Crews will remove small coniferous trees and lower branches called “ladder fuels” from trees. This pruning and thinning prevents fire from climbing into the canopy where it can gain intensity and be driven from tree to tree by the wind.
- Dead branches and dry woody debris from the forest floor will be removed so that fire cannot spread as easily on the surface and has less potential to ignite trees.
- Although some small trees will be removed, the vast majority of trees will be kept in order to shade the forest floor. This shaded fuel break slows regrowth, which is important as young trees are a potent fuel source for wildfire.
- Deciduous leafy trees, which hold moisture and are naturally less flammable, will be left as they provide natural fuel breaks.
In areas closest to homes, the cut-up material will be chipped and hauled off-site. In other areas, pile burning will be conducted under strict smoke management guidelines in order to reduce any potential impacts to nearby residents.
Nelson’s location and surrounding forested areas make proactive wildfire mitigation essential. Fuel treatments like this reduce the number and size of areas where wildfire can take hold and build intensity.
“A treated forest is much safer to fight a wildfire in. Fire crews can work more effectively, suppression efforts are quicker, and the risk to surrounding homes is greatly reduced,” said Fire Chief Jeff Hebert.
“Ultimately, this helps protect nearby homes, infrastructure, and the community as a whole.”
This project is part of the City of Nelson’s larger wildfire mitigation strategy, which includes free FireSmart home assessments and rebate programs to help residents reduce fire risks around their properties.
Nelson’s FireSmart program also includes public education initiatives to increase awareness and preparedness. As well, Nelson Fire & Rescue Services collaborates and trains with other agencies to build wildfire response capacity across jurisdictional boundaries.
For more information about the City of Nelson’s wildfire resilience efforts, click here.
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