Wildfire Fuel Mitigation Project

WFN has recently completed wildfire mitigation work across 9 parcels of land on IR 9 and IR10. 

WFN completed a Community Wild Fire Protection Plan in 2020 that identified 9 community owned land areas within IR9 and IR10 to be treated.

They were successful in obtaining $280,000 in grant funding trough the Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) Firesmart Community Program to perform wildfire mitigation work across 9 parcels. The completed areas are shown in the adjacent image and work took November 2021 - April 2022.

The work primarily consisted of treating potential wildfire fuels by thinning, pruning, pile and burning and/or chip and removal.  WFN contracted the fuel management prescription services work to Ntityix Development Corporation who worked with subcontractor Tronson Logging to complete the mitigation work.

WFN has long had relationships with wildland fire, including the recent fires in Glenrosa, Rose Valley, Bear Creek, and Mount Boucherie, as well as numerous wildland urban interface fires in and around Tsinstikeptum 9 and 10. The intent of the fuel management prescription is to guide wildfire risk reduction treatments in the Wildland Urban Interface on WFN Community Lands. The Wildfire Risk Reduction treatments mimicked frequent, low-intensity fires to remove ladder and surface fuels to help space out mature trees that have the potential to be taken by spreading wildfire. Wildfire mitigation work also course-corrects existing stand conditions funneling future fires towards fire-tolerant native grass and shrub species.

 

Unit Completion Schedule

Unit 1 - Completed

Unit 2 - Completed

Unit 3 - Complete

Unit 4 - Complete

Unit 5 - Complete

Unit 6 - Complete

Unit 7 - Complete

Unit 8 - Complete

Unit 9 - Complete

Project Objectives: Project Objectives:

  1. Reduce crown bulk density to minimize crown fire potential and intensity.
  2. Remove opportunity for wildfire to move into the forest canopy.
  3. Reduce potential wildfire surface fire intensity associated with post treatment surface fuel loading.
  4. Improve stand health/vigor through removal of stem exclusion stems typical of NDT4 ecosystems.
  5. Restore appropriate stand structure typical of ecosystems with frequent stand-maintaining fires.
  6. Provide an increased margin of safety for wildland firefighters in the event of wildfire.

Any questions can be directed to Jenn Fulton at or  250 769 4999