WFN to conduct wildfire fuel mitigation on IR 9 & 10
December 16, 2021 - WESTBANK: Burning in Unit 9, by Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre was completed Friday, December 10, 2021. Unit 6, Bear Creek is over 50% complete. Unit 7, Redcloud Way began December 13, 2021. Warming fires will occur today, December 16, 2021. Crews continue to work closely with the West Kelowna Fire Department to let them know when active burning is occurring. Progress remains strong as snowfall in the area has generally been light with melting occurring in between. The project remains on schedule and on budget.
November 26, 2021 - WESTBANK: Westbank First Nation (WFN) will be conducting wildfire mitigation work beginning Monday, November 29, 2021, lasting approximately ten days. Nine parcels have been identified in needing fuel management beginning with unit 6 – Bear Creek and Unit 9 – WFN Cut Off Lands. Forestry crews will be removing dead and hazardous trees, ladder fuels, brushing vegetation and spacing trees on just over 66 hectares throughout units 1 through 9.
WFN has contracted Ntityix Development Corporation on the project who will be working with Tronson Logging LTD. The work primarily consists of treating potential wildfire ladder fuels by thinning, pruning, pile and burning and/or chip and removal. Ntityix would like residents to be aware that small burn piles may be visible and trails throughout these various work areas may be temporarily closed.
In areas where equipment is not able to reach, debris pile burning will be conducted in accordance with air quality and open burning regulations when either open burning is allowed in the region or venting and air quality are favourable with a site venting forecast from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Once a decision is made to proceed with burning on a particular day, local fire authorities, media and neighbourhood organizations will be advised.
The project is scheduled to run end of November into April 2022.
For more information, contact Loretta Ghostkeeper, Manager of Engineering