Williams Lake, B.C. – With the 2016  wildfire season  nearly upon us,  comes word there will be prescribed burns in  the Cariboo Fire Centre.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is planning a series of controlled burns near Chimney Lake and  Felker Lake between today and  April 31, 2016, weather conditions permitting.

These burns are intended to reduce wildfire hazards in the following areas:

* Felker Lake Recreation Site

* Chimney Lake Recreation Site (north site)

* Chimney Lake Recreation Site (central site)

The burns are meant to  clear  grasses and shrubs  from  these areas in an effort to  reduce the threat  of wildfire.   There had been a few spot fires in  the Chimney Lake area last year, “They were likely started by lightning strikes, ” says Cariboo Fire Centre  spokesperson Emily Epp ” each one  was no larger than 10 meters by 10 meters and our crews were  able to quickly put them out.”   The  closest one of those spot fires was  just 1 km away from Chimney Lake.

Trained BC Wildfire Service personnel will be  on  scene to monitor the  prescribed burns.