Williams Lake, BC – After a sizzling summer on the forest fire front, work for fire crews in the Cariboo Fire Centre is not yet over…

Staff are assisting the Ministry of Forests’ Range Branch with an ecosystem restoration burn around the Fraser River, south of Dog Creek in the 100 Mile Zone.

Trained wildfire personnel will carefully monitor the burn of approximately 600-hectares to restore and maintain the traditional grassland plant communities that are native to the Cariboo-Chilcotin.  These managed fires also reduce fuel loads, leading to a decreased risk of catastrophic wildfires.

Weather permitting, the burn will be carried out until the middle of this month.

Back in 2008, the provincial government established the Cariboo-Chilcotin Ecosystem Restoration Committee to better support restoration efforts in the region.  Membership includes reps from both the provincial and federal governments, local First Nations, the BC Cattlemen’s Association, various conservation societies, and other forestry professionals.