Logan Lake Fire and Rescue chief Dan Leighton demonstrates pile burning (Province of B.C./Flickr)

By Liam Verster

FireSmart Work begins Monday

Thinning and pile burning near Kokanee Road part of City’s FireSmart efforts

Nov 24, 2021 | 11:15 AM

A new project to manage fuels in the area of Kokanee Road and Sunset Properties will add to the City of Vernon’s FireSmart program plans.

Starting Monday, Nov. 29, fuel management work will begin on the city-owned wildland urban land south of Kokanee Road in the Okanagna Landing area. The work will involve the mechanical thinning of trees and vegetation and small pile burning to clean up the organic materials.

“Wildland fuel management is a critical practice to help protect people, homes, infrastructure and the environment,” said Fire Chief David Lind.

“After many years of human influence and fire suppression activity, the growth and establishment of wildland fuels across North America – not just the North Okanagan – has drastically changed. Across the country, many forests have become overgrown and are in an unhealthy state.”

Lind added that the forest overgrowth combined with intense drought conditions and intense fire activity put the spotlight on the need to manage the forest and increase local FireSmart efforts.

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Vernon Fire Rescue Services is working with contractors to conduct this fuel management. Residents in the area can expect to see smoke as the materials are cut, piled and burned.

“The contractors doing this work have been part of other city FireSmart projects and will only use pile burning in accordance with strict environmental and site conditions,” said Deputy Chief Alan Hofsink.

“The work is low risk and involves a great amount of planning to achieve the project objectives in a safe and controlled environment.”

This project is part of the city’s broader FireSmart efforts, which in the past have included educational sessions and community cleanup events for the Sunset Properties neighbourhood.

The city also advises the public to read more about FireSmart initiatives and find out how they can be implemented to protect their properties.