A series of prescribed burns are planned near Raven Lake, about 25 kilometres southeast of Alexis Creek between June 14 and June 23, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations confirmed in a press released Monday.
The controlled burns will cover 101 hectares about 2.5 kilometres southwest of Raven Lake and west of Palmer Lake Forest Service Road, and smoke may be visible from nearby communities.
The fires will be ignited and monitored by BC Wildfire Service crews, while the decision on when to proceed with the burns will depend on weather and site conditions.
Goals of the prescribed burn project are to mitigate wildfire risks by reducing accumulations of forest fuels, remove damaging lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe plants, prepare the site for reforestation and support the establishment of a new, healthy stand of young trees, the ministry noted.
Lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe is a naturally occurring parasitic plant that lives in these trees. It impairs an infested tree’s growth and causes deformities, which limits its use in the manufacture of forest products.
Fire is a normal, natural process in many British Columbia ecosystems. Historically, lodgepole pine forests are regenerated when fire eliminates existing stands of these trees. Apart from a fire eradicating lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe plants, the heat releases seeds from the tree’s cones so a new forest can grow.
Reducing the amount of forest fuels in this area will also decrease the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the future and provide a safer working environment for firefighters should a wildfire occur.