Townsman staff
Residents who noticed large plumes of smoke in the area on Wednesday and Thursday — fear not, the provincial government conducted controlled burns out near Wasa and Baynes Lake.
BC Wildfire Service firefighters conducted a 500-hectare burn on the south face of Raymond Creek and Donald Creek drainage areas on Wednesday, and tackled a 170-hectare area at the Estella Mine site and Wolf Creek area on Thursday.
The high-elevation burns were designed to reduce forest encroachment, enhance wildlife corridors, rejuvenate the shrub and grass layers, reduce fuel loads and achieve visual quality objectives.
These types of resource management open burns are done under the authority of the Wildfire Act. The fires must follow a clearly defined burn plan and will only be lit if site and weather conditions are suitable. All prescribed burns must comply with the Environmental Management Act and the open burning smoke control regulation. This helps minimize the amount of smoke that’s generated.
Once controlled fires are ignited, they are allowed to burn out naturally but are carefully monitored by BC Wildfire Service staff at all times.