Smoke and flames from a 13-hectare prescribed burn project may be visible north of the Village of Clinton and west of Highway 97 between Sept. 29-30.
The burn was originally planned to start on Sept. 20 but had to be postponed likely due to weather and site conditions.
As is the case this time, this burn will proceed only if weather and fire behaviour conditions are suitable and will allow for quick smoke dissipation and low to moderate fire intensity, says Natasha Broznitsky, Cariboo Fire Centre fire information officer.
Smoke from this prescribed burn may be visible in the Clinton area and north of Clinton over the next few days.
It is possible that one more day of burning will happen later in October to finish the prescription, but again, this will only go ahead if another appropriate weather window occurs, she adds.
The Village of Clinton’s Volunteer Fire Department will be conducting this controlled burn with the assistance of Cariboo Fire Centre staff.
The BC Wildfire Service often helps local governments plan and conduct fuel management work, Broznitsky says, adding firefighters will closely monitor this fire at all times.
Prescribed burns mimic naturally occurring ground fires.
This prescribed burn will help maintain a fuel management project that was originally completed in 2009, she explains.
“The goal is to reduce wildfire threats near the Village of Clinton by reducing the amount of wood debris and other combustible material in grassland and open forest areas.
“The removal of forest fuels helps slow the spread of wildfires and will provide firefighters with a safer work environment during any future wildfire operations.
For information about fuel management and the FireSmart fire prevention program, visit www.bcwildfire.ca.