The BC Wildfire Service will be conducting an ecosystem restoration burn in the Leaches Lake area.
The burn will cover approximately 227 hectares near Leaches Lake, which is about 18 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake and about 3 kilometres east of Till Lake. During burn operations some road access in the area may be closed or restricted.
Smoke may impact residents near the burn area and will be highly visible from Williams Lake , Riske Creek and surrounding communities, and to motorists travelling along Meldrum Creek Road and Highway 20.
The exact timing of this burn will depend on weather and site conditions, but it could begin as early as Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022 and it may continue periodically until Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. Burning will proceed if conditions are suitable and allow for smoke dispersal during burn operations, though smoke may also linger in the following days.
Key goals of this prescribed burn include:
- Restore open grasslands by reducing encroachment from juniper and conifer trees.
- Improve the grassland forage for future wildlife and cattle grazing.
- Reduce the wildfire hazard in the area.
- Promote the growth of local plant species while reducing the spread of invasive plant species.
Historically, grasslands in the Cariboo-Chilcotin were renewed through frequent, low-intensity ground fires. Such fires prevented tree encroachment, rejuvenated understory plants and helped maintained more open grasslands and forests with large trees.
The reintroduction of managed, low-intensity ground fires to these grasslands is intended to restore and maintain the traditional grassland plant communities that are native to these areas. These managed fires also reduce fuel loads, leading to a decreased risk of catastrophic wildfires.
This burn is part of an ongoing ecosystem restoration program administered by the provincial government through the Cariboo’s Ecosystem Restoration Steering Committee, in consultation with First Nations, local ranchers, local forest licensees, outdoor organizations, Fraser Basin Council, the B.C. Wildlife Federation and the Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservation Society.
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 toll-free 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
You can follow the latest wildfire news on:
- On the free BC Wildfire Service public mobile app, available for Apple (iOS) and Android devices
- Twitter at: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
- Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo
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