Spring Fuel Treatments Upcoming at Multiple Locations Throughout City of Williams Lake

Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:

The City of Williams Lake, in partnership with the BC Wildfire Service, will be conducting a series of spring fuel treatments over the coming weeks to reduce wildfire risk and enhance community safety.

These prescribed burns will take place in several areas throughout the city, including:

• The water tower hill on Gibbon Street
• The park and hillside near Lake City Secondary School’s Williams Lake Campus
• The Williams Lake Stampede Grounds
• The lands between Country Club Boulevard and the Westridge subdivision

These controlled burns will help remove flammable materials such as dry grass and debris, reducing fire hazards and promoting healthier ecosystems. The fuel treatments are part of the City’s ongoing FireSmart initiatives to increase wildfire resilience in the community.

Burns will only be conducted on days with favorable weather conditions to ensure smoke dissipates quickly.

“To enable spring prescribed burns, professionals carefully prepare maps for an area, create a plan and then monitor the weather and ground conditions,” said Taya Vanderkop-Girard, City FireSmart Coordinator. “If you see fires in these areas over the next few weeks, know that this is critical work to help reduce the impacts of future forest fires.”

As FireSmart activities continue throughout Williams Lake, the City will inform residents through its social media channels and website where possible.

In addition to these spring fuel treatments, residents are encouraged to take FireSmart actions on their properties. For more information or to request a free FireSmart assessment visit firesmartbc.ca or email firesmart@williamslake.ca.

For questions regarding the prescribed fires contact Ms. Vanderkop-Girard at tvanderkop-girard@williamslake.ca or by calling 250-392-4321.

Prescribed Burn Scheduled to Begin This Week in Westridge Area

Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:

To help reduce the threat of wildfire, the City of Williams Lake, in partnership with the BC Wildfire Service, will commence spring burning activities this week within City limits, weather permitting.

The prescribed burn area is located between Country Club Boulevard and Westridge, which will be highly visible to residents as well as motorists travelling along Highways 97 and 20. Smoke may also impact some residents within City limits.

The exact timing of this burn will depend on weather and site conditions; however, operations are expected to get underway on Wednesday, April 6 while conditions are still cool and damp.

Fuel treatment is a critical step to protecting the community and homes by reducing the amount of fuel available in the event of a wildfire, such as dry grasses, woody debris and combustible material. As outlined in the Williams Lake and Area Community Wildfire Protection Plan, these priority actions create fuel breaks within and around the community to slow down forest fire and contribute to making Williams Lake a FireSmart community.

Preparations began last week to ensure a ‘black line’ around the perimeter to contain the fire. Residents are asked to keep children and pets away from the area, and to stay back while staff monitor the work to ensure a safe and thorough burn.

As FireSmart activities continue throughout Williams Lake, the City will inform residents through its social media channels and website where possible.

In addition, property owners are encouraged to take proactive FireSmart actions on their properties to reduce flammable fuels. To find out more, visit www.firesmartbc.ca. You can also request a FireSmart Assessment at homesafety@williamslake.ca.

For more information visit www.williamslake.ca/873/Community-Wildfire-Protection or if you have questions about the prescribed fires, contact Evan Dean, Acting Williams Lake Fire Department Fire Prevention/Training Officer, by email at edean@williamslake.ca or by phone at 250-392-4321. For technical inquiries contact Ken Day with KDay Forestry Ltd. by calling 250-267-2474 or email j.kenneth.day@gmail.com.

Successful Controlled Burn at Deka Lake

Courtesy of the Cariboo RD's Emergency Operations Centre:

A successful controlled burn in the battle against wildfires in the Deka Lake area on Monday has Volunteer Fire Chief Al Boyce grateful for the hard work and dedication of his crew, the community, and all the other firefighters who helped with the effort.

“I’m so impressed with the dedication of the volunteers of the Deka Lake Volunteer Fire Department and our fellow volunteer halls across the Cariboo, the work of BC Wildfire Service, and the responders who are coming from around the province to assist us,” says Boyce. “The controlled burn removed available fuel between the fires edge and the fuel free guard. This strategy slows down and helps limit the spread of the wildfire by decreasing the amount of fire perimeter that must be managed by BCWS staff.”

Boyce notes that there have not been any structures lost to date, roadblocks are in place, and patrols are maintaining security while the evacuation order is in place.

“I want our residents to rest assured that their community is still here,” says Boyce

Cariboo Regional District Board Chair Margo Wagner is also praising the work of fire crews and first responders.

“Cariboo firefighters have hard-won experience battling wildfires from previous years. That expertise is paying dividends across the region in 2021. Our local first responders and all those answering the call from other parts of the province are doing an incredible job under challenging circumstances.”