Prescribed burn for Nooaitch region happening soon

The BC Wildfire Service will be supporting Nooaitch Indian Band in conducting a prescribed burn covering up to 30 hectares. This is part of a three year project that began in 2025, and the goal this year is to successfully complete the burn on the full 30 hectares, retreating some of the area from the previous year that didn’t burn with the level of fuel consumption that we needed. The project is located about 20 kilometres west of Merritt on Nooaitch IR #10, adjacent to Highway 8 and the Nicola River.

Key goals of this prescribed burn include:

• removing forest fuels to reduce the long-term risk of wildfire
• wildfire risk reduction
• provide critical cross training and community partnership opportunities for BC Wildfire Service Personnel and members of the Nooaitch Indian Band

The B.C. Wildfire service advises that smoke may be visible to members of the Nooaitch Indian Band, Merritt, the Lower Nicola Indian Band Community and surrounding areas, and to motorists travelling along Highway 8.

The exact timing of this burn will depend on weather and site conditions, but it could begin as early as Monday, Mar 9. Burning will proceed if conditions are suitable and allow for smoke dispersal during burn operations, though smoke may also linger in the following days.