This Fall, the Nelson Fire Rescue Service will be working in collaboration with the BC Wildfire Service and the RDCK to conduct a fuel modification and joint training exercise.

The 1.06 Hectare treatment area is located to the Southeast of the Svoboda Road parking lot, just North of Anderson Creek. When completed, the area will see a significant reduction in wildfire risk through the removal of surface fuels and an increase in tree spacing.

No mature green trees are targeted for removal. Work to prepare the site will begin in early July, with the burn taking place in the Fall. Careful consideration will be paid to ensure that the bike trails and climbing areas are not disturbed by this project.

As wildfires become a progressively relevant threat for municipal fire departments to be prepared for, so too increases the need for training and collaboration. The BC Wildfire Service does an exceptional job at managing the threat of wildfire on the landscape, and Nelson Fire Rescue Service is committed to developing its capacity to handle these wildfire threats within municipal boundaries just as effectively.

As with any function of emergency response, the ability to perform in the field is developed through training and practice. This collaborative training exercise will provide valuable opportunities for the NFRS and BCWS to continue our training on one another’s systems and further our ability to manage wildfires both together and independently.

In addition to the benefits of training and risk reduction, this controlled burn will also serve an important role in returning valuable nutrients to the soil.

If you have any questions about this project or other FireSmart activities around Nelson, please reach out to our FireSmart Coordinator at FireSmart@nelson.ca or by calling 250-352-8116.

Regional District of Central Kootenay BC Wildfire Service