The BC Wildfire Service, with the support of the City of Kimberley, will be conducting a prescribed burn in the Matthew Creek area, about eight kilometres southwest of Kimberley. The burn will cover up to 20 hectares.
Plans are to begin as early as Tuesday, April 23 should weather and site conditions allow.
Smoke will be visible from Kimberley and may impact residents closer to the burn area.
Burning will proceed if conditions are suitable to achieve objectives and allow for smoke dispersal, though smoke may linger in the following days, particularly the morning after burn operations. Despite all precautions to manage it, unintended smoke impacts are possible after any burn.
The goal of this prescribed burn is to improve community wildfire protection by reducing fuels in the City of Kimberley wildland urban interface.
Key goals include:
• Reduce accumulations of dead wood and other combustible material,
• Delay the growth of competing vegetation, and
• Decrease the risk of future catastrophic wildfires in the area.
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: bcwildfire.ca.