Controlled burns planned

[Fisher-Dude]

An update on a collaborative project between FLNRO, BCWF clubs and region, and PIB.


Controlled burns planned


https://www.castanet.net/content/2018/4/4_2131_p3303997.jpg
Colin Dacre - Apr 18, 2018 / 10:39 am | Story: 224028

Photo: Mike Biden file photo

The Penticton Indian Band is announcing prescribed burns in the Garnet Lake area northwest of Summerland.

In conjunction with the provincial government, the burn will take place over the next three weeks and cover 120 acres between Summerland and Peachland.

“This controlled burn will help restore and enhance natural important wildlife habitat and reduce the risk of wildfire to nearby properties,” a PIB news release reads.

“Historically, the landscape in the Garnet Valley would have been renewed through frequent, low-intensity ground fires. Such fires prevented tree encroachment, rejuvenated understory plants and helped maintain open grasslands and forests with large trees.”

Smoke from the fires will be visible from nearby communities. Crews from the Penticton Indian Band and BC Wildfire Service will be on scene to watch the fires at all times.

The burns will only go ahead on days where the weather will allow the quick dispersion of smoke.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Penticton/224028/Controlled-burns-planned

[juiceterboost]

seems like a good proactive fire prevention program, that ties in to traditional burning regimes and in the end will increase wildlife habitat.

[Hadda]

Good on em. I think we'll be seeing alot more of this. Last year opened up some eyes for sure.

[358mag]

Its a great start , but need to burn 120,000 acres in that region make some great habitat .

[Fisher-Dude]

Its a great start , but need to burn 120,000 acres in that region make some great habitat .

Justin will have everyone dropping roaches all over the place, it just might happen!

[Stone Sheep Steve]

A step in the right direction!

[338win mag]

Good news, and good on all those involved, hopefully this common sense thinking will spread throughout the province.

[Salty]

Thumbs up all around good to see some positive news for a change kudos to everyone involved.

[eric]

Like others have said, It's a good start, now to expand these burns across the province.

[dana]

Like others have said, It's a good start, now to expand these burns across the province.

You do realize that forestry companies still broadcast burn blocks much bigger than this right? 48 ha is just the size of an average cutblk. ;)

[scott h]

You do realize that forestry companies still broadcast burn blocks much bigger than this right? 48 ha is just the size of an average cutblk. ;)

But that's after they cut all the timber isn't it ???

[rocksteady]

You do realize that forestry companies still broadcast burn blocks much bigger than this right? 48 ha is just the size of an average cutblk. ;)

Depends on where you live Dana.. in my country industry does zero prescribed burning..

[Dannybuoy]

You do realize that forestry companies still broadcast burn blocks much bigger than this right? 48 ha is just the size of an average cutblk. ;) Don't go spoiling the mood now .... some still believe in the " habitat habitat habitat " theory🤔

[Stone Sheep Steve]

You do realize that forestry companies still broadcast burn blocks much bigger than this right? 48 ha is just the size of an average cutblk. ;)

When is the last time they broadcast burn in Region 8?

Would be nice to see that be the norm around here again.

[Ourea]

Areas in Reg 8 that I frequent simply burn slash piles. There are no prescribed burns conducted by forestry companies that I am aware of. It is logged to sh*t, more and more roads every year.

As for the habitat, habitat, habitat sarcasm that appears to be fanned and mocked......I guess outfitters up north would regularly 'accidentally' burn chunks of their area simply for a better view. They were creating habitat to increase their guiding success due to the resulting spike in wildlife and said concentration.

Oh, and this years inventory counts for MD in Reg 8 had the highest density and numbers come from a burn that is still in it's prime of productivity. Counts have been stable there while other areas are showing a decrease.

[dana]

Like others have said, It's a good start, now to expand these burns across the province.

Again, I will quote the post I actually responded to. Notice the phrase 'across the province' ? We do broadcast burns still in my neck of the woods. A 48 ha burn is just the size of an average cutblk. Yes, it is a good start. But don't pat yourselves on the back like you are saving mule deer from the brink of extinction. Just wonder if a skidder chaining the area could cover more ground and if volunteers planting Ceanothus could give a better bang for the buck when it comes to helping mule deer? Again, 48 ha is just a small area to burn. What is the estimate return for mule deer? Has this question been asked or are we still thinking chants and mantras are the way to produce deer?

[HighCountryBC]

Its 120ha not acres. That is a misprint in the story.

[dana]

Its 120ha not acres. That is a misprint in the story.

That is better. Glad to hear the right number. Is there a plan to plant deer food like Ceanothus post burn? Just looking at a natural burn in grassland country in Kamloops, hard to notice any difference a year or 2 post fire. Just looks the same as the unburned areas. First year, I did observe good deer activity but didn't see much for sheep activity. Second year, deer activity dropped off and was same as the unburned areas. Sheep didn't seem to care about it whatsoever.

[Jelvis]

old guys like acres, younger and middle like hectares -- because of school and what they were taught under -- when you used the old system long it's what you know and compare with -- the new system now is the way to go if your not retired.
I'm older and like pounds and ounces hahahha just think -- in terms of the way you were taught when in school years ago. Pounds, miles, inches
Jel -- it shows a persons age a bit

[Sitkaspruce]

Broad cast burns on cutblock can either be good or bad, depending on the wood debris left. Most don't do shit on steep blocks for wildlife, it is all about making planting easier and removing the shit wood the companies pay $.25/m for. Dana, do they burn south facing, pure pine blocks or are most north facing, cold and dark spruce and balsam blocks? The last block I burned was back in 1998, Balsam/Spruce with avg 20% slope, and we have never burned another since for Northern BC from Rupert to Prince to DC. My guess is the Clearwater district or Headwaters or what ever it is called now is the only place in BC that still BCB.

But BCB are not for wildlife, these burns are.

Cheers

SS

[dana]

Sitka, I think now is the time for discussion to change the anti-burn strategy. Even if we were not talking about benefits to wildlife. Lets just talk about making communities more fire proof. Regardless of what is considered the most favourable to growing trees, broadcast burns need to be back in our tool box again. Wildlife will benifit as well as communities. Just look at the amount of cutblks that burned last summer. Do you think those fires would have been able to eat like they did if the fuel in those cuts was managed earlier in broadcast burns?

[LBM]

Areas in Reg 8 that I frequent simply burn slash piles. There are no prescribed burns conducted by forestry companies that I am aware of. It is logged to sh*t, more and more roads every year.

As for the habitat, habitat, habitat sarcasm that appears to be fanned and mocked......I guess outfitters up north would regularly 'accidentally' burn chunks of their area simply for a better view. They were creating habitat to increase their guiding success due to the resulting spike in wildlife and said concentration.

Oh, and this years inventory counts for MD in Reg 8 had the highest density and numbers come from a burn that is still in it's prime of productivity. Counts have been stable there while other areas are showing a decrease.

Some of those outfitter burns up north actually caused more problems then they wanted, had elk etc moving(feeding) up higher into sheep areas competing with the sheep
for feed etc and there sheep were there high dollar animal, but in saying that some sheep have changed habits and are now lower in the timber.

[HarryToolips]

This is very good news, and good on the Penticton Indian Band for stepping up and helping the MOE...now If they could get some of their 'bad apples' to stop shooting elk year round then they'd be really helping wildlife...

[HighCountryBC]

That is better. Glad to hear the right number. Is there a plan to plant deer food like Ceanothus post burn? Just looking at a natural burn in grassland country in Kamloops, hard to notice any difference a year or 2 post fire. Just looks the same as the unburned areas. First year, I did observe good deer activity but didn't see much for sheep activity. Second year, deer activity dropped off and was same as the unburned areas. Sheep didn't seem to care about it whatsoever.

There is a considerable amount of ceanothus cover in this area already. From conversations with PIB they "plan" on planting more "deer food". Hopefully they follow through on that. One of the main issues is the forest in-growth choking out species like bunchgrass, saskatoon, willow etc. The goal is to open up the canopy and allow the growth of those species among others.

This prescribed burn directly abuts the Finlay Creek wildfire from last summer that burned a few thousand hectares. It is (or was) a high value mule deer winter range area that desperately needed a boost as far as habitat goes. The project was spear-headed by a very forward-thinking biologist who has had wildfire crews doing fuel management in the area for the last 3 years. Hopefully this is the beginning of regular prescribed burning in the shoulder seasons.

[dana]

There is a considerable amount of ceanothus cover in this area already. From conversations with PIB they "plan" on planting more "deer food". Hopefully they follow through on that. One of the main issues is the forest in-growth choking out species likebunchgrass, saskatoon, willow etc. The goal is to open up the canopy and allow the growth of those species among others.

This prescribed burn directly abuts the Finlay Creek wildfire from last summer that burned a few thousand hectares. It is (or was) a high value mule deer winter range area that desperately needed a boost as far as habitat goes. The project was spear-headed by a very forward-thinking biologist who has had wildfire crews doing fuel management in the area for the last 3 years. Hopefully this is the beginning of regular prescribed burning in the shoulder seasons.

This does indeed sound very promising. Hope it can continue for years to come. Boots on the ground is the kind of habitat enhancement that makes differences.

[boxhitch]

The more these burns happen the more easily they will happen in the future. For years Reg bios have tried but there is always push back by the public nimbys worried about air quality for asthmatics, black scenic views, over achievement, etc
Burn time windows often expired and prescriptions had to be re-written
Having the indigens as partners is like a free pass card

[Stone Sheep Steve]

The more these burns happen the more easily they will happen in the future. For years Reg bios have tried but there is always push back by the public nimbys worried about air quality for asthmatics, black scenic views, over achievement, etc
Burn time windows often expired and prescriptions had to be re-written
Having the indigens as partners is like a free pass card


This..........

[338win mag]

Areas in Reg 8 that I frequent simply burn slash piles. There are no prescribed burns conducted by forestry companies that I am aware of. It is logged to sh*t, more and more roads every year.

As for the habitat, habitat, habitat sarcasm that appears to be fanned and mocked......I guess outfitters up north would regularly 'accidentally' burn chunks of their area simply for a better view. They were creating habitat to increase their guiding success due to the resulting spike in wildlife and said concentration.

Oh, and this years inventory counts for MD in Reg 8 had the highest density and numbers come from a burn that is still in it's prime of productivity. Counts have been stable there while other areas are showing a decrease.
Yup^^^ so lets explore this.
FN have been doing this very thing in this region for probably 2000 years, manipulating the land by fire, to suit their needs if it didn't happen by circumstance, ie,, lightning caused fires, natural occuring fires etc to promote game pops.

I see fire management as front and center in this province if were ever going to accomplish anything, whatsoever.
Trouble is now the vehicular access after a wildfire needs to be curtailed and it pisses alot of people off.
It doesn't have anything to do with hunting, its more about the well being of a species, such as Mule deer,,, so I dont get the big deal about vehicular closures in some area's, like where a fire has recently cleansed the land.

[Sitkaspruce]

Sitka, I think now is the time for discussion to change the anti-burn strategy. Even if we were not talking about benefits to wildlife. Lets just talk about making communities more fire proof. Regardless of what is considered the most favourable to growing trees, broadcast burns need to be back in our tool box again. Wildlife will benifit as well as communities. Just look at the amount of cutblks that burned last summer. Do you think those fires would have been able to eat like they did if the fuel in those cuts was managed earlier in broadcast burns?

Dana, one problem with BCB is the intensity of the fire, depending on the fuel load. IF we could get companies to remove and utilize more wood, then a small BCB of low intensity will work. Right now, we have too hot of fires and this damages the soil, which results in poor growing trees with chlorotic, stressed stands. Remember that with the take or pay, companies went from 4" top to 8-10", with the rest left in bush, now mostly at the stump in many places. This fuel is wrong for both wildlife and BCB. The other concern is that studies have shown that burns of slash after logging only provide between 15-20 years of nutrients, where as the slow decomposition of the CWD provides many long term benefits to the stand. Of course, most of these studies are from the coast, where fires are not needed for regen. One from the interior showed that a lot of the thin top soil with duff layer was damaged by the heat of the fire die to the grasses and deciduous being removed by skidding/yarding activities which allowed the fire to burn hot and slow with just logging slash. That's why we only burned on steep slopes because we could get the fire to move faster and not apply a lot of heat to the soil. Lots of pluses and minuses to BCB, figuring out what is the right place and time takes too long, so why do it.......

Wildlife and logging used to be in the same paragraph, now they are not even on the same page.......

Cheers

SS

[dana]

Dana, one problem with BCB is the intensity of the fire, depending on the fuel load. IF we could get companies to remove and utilize more wood, then a small BCB of low intensity will work. Right now, we have too hot of fires and this damages the soil, which results in poor growing trees with chlorotic, stressed stands. Remember that with the take or pay, companies went from 4" top to 8-10", with the rest left in bush, now mostly at the stump in many places. This fuel is wrong for both wildlife and BCB. The other concern is that studies have shown that burns of slash after logging only provide between 15-20 years of nutrients, where as the slow decomposition of the CWD provides many long term benefits to the stand. Of course, most of these studies are from the coast, where fires are not needed for regen. One from the interior showed that a lot of the thin top soil with duff layer was damaged by the heat of the fire die to the grasses and deciduous being removed by skidding/yarding activities which allowed the fire to burn hot and slow with just logging slash. That's why we only burned on steep slopes because we could get the fire to move faster and not apply a lot of heat to the soil. Lots of pluses and minuses to BCB, figuring out what is the right place and time takes too long, so why do it.......

Wildlife and logging used to be in the same paragraph, now they are not even on the same page.......

Cheers

SS

Wonder what the debris loading was back in the 60's and 70's when we slashed and burned species like pl. All I know walking through those burned plantations now and it is amazing to see the growth.

i know you might not agree with me, but government is the one that sets rules from stocking standerds to free to grow to green up. They are just numbers that some buracrats have come up with. The blame is always layed on industry but they are just following the rules set by government.

[two-feet]

I love to see the burning. Our forests desperately need this.

[338win mag]

Wonder what the debris loading was back in the 60's and 70's when we slashed and burned species like pl. All I know walking through those burned plantations now and it is amazing to see the growth.

i know you might not agree with me, but government is the one that sets rules from stocking standerds to free to grow to green up. They are just numbers that some buracrats have come up with. The blame is always layed on industry but they are just following the rules set by government.
There was very little in the way of fire suppression before 1970ish,,, so debris would be minimal, in most area's I am thinking.

"rules set by government" becomes confusing when the donors to said political parties are the ones who....oh,, never mind.
Biologists in this province must be pulling their hair out.

[Jelvis]

Smokey Dah Bear says, " Make sure you put out that Spliff b4 yah toss it on the dry grass, I mean weed, it's every where folks."
Jel -- Smokey the Bear -- says, put yer Butts out -- way out hahahahaha -- Stick yer Butts way out lol --:shock:-- I like big butts and this I can't deny! :oops:

[dana]

There was very little in the way of fire suppression before 1970ish,,, so debris would be minimal, in most area's I am thinking.

"rules set by government" becomes confusing when the donors to said political parties are the ones who....oh,, never mind.
Biologists in this province must be pulling their hair out.

So you think knocking down all the then 'useless species' like pl didn't create debris loading in cutblocks. And BTW we had fire suppression well before 1970. ;)

And political donations go both ways. We currently have a minister of Environment whose election campaign was entirely funded by US Environmental ORGs whose funding comes from US Oil producers with the sole goal to landlock Alberta Oil.

[338win mag]

So you think knocking down all the then 'useless species' like pl didn't create debris loading in cutblocks. And BTW we had fire suppression well before 1970. ;)

And political donations go both ways. We currently have a minister of Environment whose election campaign was entirely funded by US Environmental ORGs whose funding comes from US Oil producers with the sole goal to landlock Alberta Oil.
Anyways, back to the fires, I'm aware of fire suppression as I was doing it in the late 70's, but it aint like it is now, and where I live region 3-8 the land burned every 100 yrs, so now were abit off cycle, creating a hazard thats needs to be dealt with.
WTF are you talking about oil for dude.

[303savage]

'Controlled burns, I think the control part is just wishful on some fires.

[dana]

Anyways, back to the fires, I'm aware of fire suppression as I was doing it in the late 70's, but it aint like it is now, and where I live region 3-8 the land burned every 100 yrs, so now were abit off cycle, creating a hazard thats needs to be dealt with.
WTF are you talking about oil for dude.

oh I don't know maybe because someone brought up Political donations? You want to take off down a rabbit hole, I'll help ya. ;)

So back to Fire Supression. There was a day when we hit it early and hit it hard. Those days are long gone. :)

[boxhitch]

Prescriptions change to meet the flavour of the week sometimes. Around here compamys are trying to fill the material demand of a new wood pellet plant and a co-generation plant, they need fuel too.

Check out BC Forest Practices Board. These guys are a good source of the how and why. No double talk, straight answers from a watchdog
.bcfpb.ca

[Sitkaspruce]

Wonder what the debris loading was back in the 60's and 70's when we slashed and burned species like pl. All I know walking through those burned plantations now and it is amazing to see the growth.

i know you might not agree with me, but government is the one that sets rules from stocking standerds to free to grow to green up. They are just numbers that some buracrats have come up with. The blame is always layed on industry but they are just following the rules set by government.

No argument on the stocking standards, been watching the robotic planting of mono-species for 25 years. But it is not all Gov for everything, watched a lot of companies get approved amendments to change species from DF and Sp to Pl because the rotation of 80 years for shitty grain wood appealed the bean counters in the ivory towers.

As for burning, the jury is still out on the pros and cons for BCB and will probably be for a while.

Cheers

SS

[dana]

No argument on the stocking standards, been watching the robotic planting of mono-species for 25 years. But it is not all Gov for everything, watched a lot of companies get approved amendments to change species from DF and Sp to Pl because the rotation of 80 years for shitty grain wood appealed the bean counters in the ivory towers.

As for burning, the jury is still out on the pros and cons for BCB and will probably be for a while.

Cheers

SS

Maybe the jury is out in your neck of the woods but I can assure you it is being bantered around in many areas of the province post last fire season. Silviculturally, is it a hill to die on opposing?

[rocksteady]

Weather permitting... planned 560 ha eco burn to be done north of Cranbrook..

[rocksteady]

https://www.e-know.ca/regions/ktunaxa-nation/aqam-st-marys/prescribed-burn-scheduled-next-week/

[gcreek]

https://www.e-know.ca/regions/ktunaxa-nation/aqam-st-marys/prescribed-burn-scheduled-next-week/


Was this one you mentioned trying to get?

[rocksteady]

Was this one you mentioned trying to get?

Yup.. foot in the door

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Nice work Mike
Hope the weather gods cooperate

[j270wsm]

Hope we see controlled burns in the elk valley before we get one that can't be controlled.

[gcreek]

Yup.. foot in the door

Right on. Now convince them we need some early prescribed burns here.:-D

[Ride Red]

Would be great to see more of these all over the province before anymore major fires happen. Great job!!!

[rocksteady]

Got the window.. getting it done..

Very happy with results so far

[rocksteady]

560 hectares done. Met the objectives. Some smoke issues.. sorry Sawmill, Everett and all Kimberley people.. it will be clear again in a day or so

[358mag]

560 hectares done. Met the objectives. Some smoke issues.. sorry Sawmill, Everett and all Kimberley people.. it will be clear again in a day or so

Great too hear , keep it going .

[Ourea]

Very encouraging to say the least.
Every effort that helps enhance habitat....win, win, win.

Ironic that some still challenge/argue that creating and enhancing habitat is a waste of time.
Some say that regulation changes will make a more positive impact on wildlife populations?
This simply flies in the face of all science and quantified understandings of how to enhance wildlife populations.

Looks like we are are headed in the right direction these days!

[LBM]

Very encouraging to say the least.
Every effort that helps enhance habitat....win, win, win.

Ironic that some still challenge/argue that creating and enhancing habitat is a waste of time.
Some say that regulation changes will make a more positive impact on wildlife populations?
This simply flies in the face of all science and quantified understandings of how to enhance wildlife populations.

Looks like we are are headed in the right direction these days!

The article posted makes it sound like its more about enhancement for cattle.

[338win mag]

If cattle do benefit from it hopefully its coincidental, as cattle shouldn't even be in an ungulate's wintering area's.
I dont have a problem with cattle grazing on crown land, but,, I wonder when a political genius will appear on the scene that realizes we need to identify critical wintering area's in the province and keep cattle out of these area's.

[boxhitch]

Wildfire mitigation work will be underway shortly in the North Okanagan.
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development is planning "ecosystem restoration burns" for the Satellite Hill and South Fork areas.
The burns will take place between April 30 and May 14, however, only if conditions are suitable.

[Fisher-Dude]

Hills to be set on fire


Darren Handschuh - Apr 28, 2018 / 10:09 am | Story: 224924


https://www.castanet.net/content/2018/4/screen_shot_2017-11-16_at_2.33.20_pm_p3266064_p3306682.jpg
Photo: File photo
Prescribed burns are planned for the Satellite Hill and South Fork areas.


Hills in the North Okanagan will be set on fire in the coming days to help restore ecosystems.

Prescribed burns are planned for the Satellite Hill and South Fork areas.

The burns, to be carried out by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, are scheduled to take place between April 30 and May 14. The exact timing will be dependent on weather and site conditions.

Burning will proceed only if conditions are suitable, and will allow for low-intensity to moderate-intensity fire and quick smoke dissipation.

Satellite Hill: 62 hectares, south of Highway 6 about six kilometres south of Lumby, in the Harris Creek area
South Fork: 17 hectares, east of Highway 6 about 63 kilometres east of Lumby
Crews will control and monitor the burns at all times and smoke may be visible from Lumby and other nearby communities for several days afterward.

Historically, the grasslands and open forests in the Okanagan were renewed through frequent, low-intensity ground fires. Such fires prevented tree encroachment, rejuvenated understory plants and maintained more open grasslands and open forests with large trees. The reintroduction of managed, low-intensity ground fires to these grasslands and open forests is intended to restore and maintain vegetation native to these areas.

In addition to ecosystem restoration, prescribed burns help reduce the risk of extreme wildfire behaviour by removing accumulations of combustible materials from the landscape.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, please call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

[ActionJackson017]

Personally, I'm thrilled to see news about prescribed burns such as this and that with the PIB. I remember living in the Okanagan 15 years ago and people talking then about how dangerous the fuel load was becoming.. it's no wonder we had a summer like last from a loss perspective.

I'm curious on how an average guy helps an effort such as this? I wouldn't mind volunteering somehow so I can learn more.

[HarryToolips]

^^^^great to see,...

[rocksteady]

Personally, I'm thrilled to see news about prescribed burns such as this and that with the PIB. I remember living in the Okanagan 15 years ago and people talking then about how dangerous the fuel load was becoming.. it's no wonder we had a summer like last from a loss perspective.

I'm curious on how an average guy helps an effort such as this? I wouldn't mind volunteering somehow so I can learn more.

Lobby your local district manager...and your local habitat biologist and your local rod and gun club to lobby also...