Work is underway to improve wildfire safety in one of Powell River’s highest risk areas.
BC Wildfire Service crews are working with City of Powell River for two weeks to thin and prune trees and brush in the popular Penticton trails area in upper Westview.
The need for a forest-cleanup project in the area was highlighted while developing a community wildfire-protection plan. Work began on Monday, March 21.
The cost of the work is being paid for by Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations; $5 million was earmarked in this year’s BC budget for these types of projects and to promote the province’s FireSmart program.
“We’re well positioned now that we have our wildfire-protection plan in place, and this will be a great pilot project to give us a sense of how much work is required to do,” stated councillor Russell Brewer at City of Powell River’s council meeting on Thursday, March 3.
Donna MacPherson, fire information officer for Coastal Fire Centre, said there is always a heightened danger when residential neighbourhoods are right beside forested areas.
“It’s hard for the crews to fight it effectively because there’s trees and then there’s houses,” said MacPherson.
The project area is city-owned land off of Teakerne Street leading to the undeveloped Manson Avenue extension. The clean up will include excess leaves, dry undergrowth and dead branches laying on the ground along the 800 metres of trail in the area.
According to project information, trees will be pruned to increase the distance between the ground and branches. Trees smaller that 10 centimetres in diameter will be thinned to reduce the chance of fire spreading tree to tree. The resulting piles of debris will be chipped for disposal.
MacPherson added that part of the project’s intent is to create a space for fire crews to work in, in the event of a blaze.
According to the BC Wildfire Service, once complete the work will slow the spread of any future wildfire by reducing the number of embers that would be carried aloft and will create a more easily defended space where firefighters could work.
“I understand the fuels in the interior are more flashy than on the coast,” said MacPherson, “but it is still a concern because of how close they are to interface areas.”
According to project information from the city, the work will serve as a demonstration of effective fuel treatments that homeowners can apply to their own properties to reduce wildfires locally. It will also serve a training exercise for off-season BC Wildfire Service staff and provide data for future projects.
Work will be limited to one side of the Penticton trails to provide a before and after comparison for educational purposes.
City councillor Maggie Hathaway stated at Thursday, March 3, regular council meeting that a similar project on Savary Island was “a great improvement” for the island.
