BC Wildfire Service will commence prescribed burn in the Hedley area

MERRITT– As prescribed burn season continues the BC Wildfire Service will be burning south of Merritt as soon as today.

The BC Wildfire Service will be assisting the Upper Similkameen Indian Band in a prescribed burn project approximately 32 kilometres Southeast of Princeton.

This project will be up to 168 hectares in size and is expected to begin as early as April 3, 2024, continuing until approximately mid-April, or until grass is too green to burn.

The treatment area includes the Lower Similkameen IR area adjacent to Hedley and Highway 3 and smoke may be visible from those areas.

CFJC

The objective of this project is to reduce fine fuels and buildup of dead grass within the treatment area.

The prescribed burns support the ecosystem as they encourage natural restoration.

The burns also improve community protection through fuel load reduction giving wildfires less to burn.

Operations will be controlled and closely monitored and will provide critical cross training opportunities for the Upper Similkameen Indian Band and BC Wildfire Service.

For more information on the importance of cultural burning and prescribed fire, please visit prescribedfire.ca.