Another Report Warns of Forest Fire Danger

Tuesday, June 20, 2006 04:00 AM

A new report from the Forest Practices Board echoes the concerns issued just last week by members of the Prince George Fire Centre. Forest fuel reduction needs to become a priority consideration in forest management policy and practices.

Wildfire photo courtesy Ministry of Forests Protection Branch

Forest fuels are living and dead trees, branches, needles and vegetation that will burn in the event of a wildfire. The report focused on the southern interior primarily because of the pressure and risk factors posed by urban growth and climate.

"This is a complex problem," says Board Chair Bruce Fraser. "However, we must recognize that areas with excessively high fuels create a risk to the public and to important forest values, such as community watersheds and habitat for endangered species. We need to take action through our forest policy and practices to prevent further fuel build-up. We also need to begin reducing the fuel levels in those areas most at risk."

The report outlines that while a prescribed burn may help, thee are dangers the fire will escape the control area, and there are health concerns created by the smoke.

Here are some of the recommendations:

1. Clear targets for fuel reduction in important areas need to be established.

2. A provincial system to accurately assess and map fuels is needed.

3. Prescribed fire is the most practical means of reducing forest fuels in appropriate areas and this practice needs to be returned to the landscape.

4. Fuel reduction practices that do not further add to the fuel problem need to be tested and implemented.

5. The provincial government needs to continue to encourage and support fuel reduction activities in wildland-urban interface areas.

Last week several representatives from the Prince George Fire Centre advised the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George that a key element in reducing the risk of wildfire in this region, would be to complete an inventory of high fuel areas.

(See related story)

They also recommend the Regional District work with other communities, the provincial government, forest companies, First Nations and all other stakeholders, to set a priority list for removal of dead trees from areas which pose the highest risk.

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Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: thereasonableman on June 20 2006 1:12 PM

I can't believe we're still talking about "We need to start looking at doing something about this." That's kind of like having a starving horse in your stable and commenting about "We need to start looking at making plans to feed him." We should be already full ahead working under a plan that has already been developed and implemented. Lowering stumpage rates on this type of timber would encourage a high level of logging activity, for one. Especially in areas that are higher cost and/or lower return to log. Other areas could be cut and burned or bulldozed and burned. (You can build fire breaks before the fire starts) However, a stratum change April 01/06 actually increased the stumpage rates on this type of timber and now the mills don't want it. I love the government, it's always like slapping a guy in the face, and a year later he says "Ow!" and looks and sees a guy watering his lawn. The result: He bans watering your lawn because it makes his face hurt.

Posted by: owl on June 20 2006 5:24 PM

I have had people who have acreage outside of the city tell me that they have been advised that they can just keep the beetle killed wood, for instance, standing and it will eventually collapse by itself. True enough, in the meantime we have an increased fire risk that has never been there before and that continues even when those trees collapse.

I look up a the patches on Cranbrook hill every now and then and wonder when one of those might go up in flames if the summer remains dry. And those are just the ones which are quite visible.