(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
April 01, 2014 - 11:05 AM
KAMLOOPS — After two weeks of delays highly visible burns are finally set to take place in the Lytton area starting Wednesday.
The controlled burns are part of a B.C. Wildfire prescribed burn plan with work being done in three separate areas through April 15, depending on the weather.
“Burning is happening right now, there's lots of piles to burn,” Fire Information Officer Kayla Pepper says, “It's typical work for this time of year.”
Pepper notes the window of opportunity for the burn is definitely in place for Wednesday and people can expect a lot of activity in the area as many wildfire personnel monitor, control and suppress the fires as needed.
The largest burn will take place just south of Lytton and smoke from the 184 hectare burn will be visible in Lytton and from Highway 1. Smoke will also be visible from Highway 1 from a 14 ha fire at Skihist Park east of Lytton and while a 34 ha burn northwest of Lytton will be visible from Highways 1 and 12 as well as the village.
The burn northwest of Lytton is set to help restore sheep habitat while the large burn will help restore elk habitat. The Skihist Park burn will help to restore natural habitats and reduce the risk of an interface fire.
Controlled burns have also been taking place over the past couple weeks near Barriere and into the Okanagan. These burns are scheduled to be completed by mid-May and are meant to mimic naturally occurring ground fires or reduce ladder fuels through pruning and pile burns.
Crews have also attended two other fires over the past few days; a 25 ha fire at Izman Creek north of Lytton on the weekend, and a small grass fire on the outskirts of Kamloops caused by a car fire Monday.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infotelnews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014