A wildfire risk-mitigation project is in progress near Myra Canyon. The $1.6-million project will treat 1,000 hectares in the Southeast Kelowna site.
Currently, crews are clearing away small trees and flammable brush to eliminate fuel from the forest floor.
Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development said the project is about decreasing risk and increasing public safety.
“Mechanical thinning is one tool to reduce risk, prescribed burning is another. We have allocated $10-million to create a prescribed burning strategy and that’s what we will be working on this year. We intend to have it completed in late spring,” said Donaldson.
In addition, the federal budget reflected an increase of 58 per cent from $64 million to $101 million for direct firefighting costs.
“We’ll have more boots on the ground, more initial attack, more fire crews, an extended season for our air support and we’ll see new technology being introduced. We’re experimenting with night vision goggles so that hot spots can be detect before the sun rises.”
According to Forest Enhancement Society of BC Operations manager, Dave Conly, the forests have changed over time.
“They’re thicker and there’s a lot more dead and down trees, so if a fire comes through here it burns a lot hotter.”
He said that by removing some of the smaller trees, leaving the bigger trees and leaving it more open, there’s less fuel on the forest floor and if we do get a fire through here it’s easier to control.
Multiple projects like this one have already begun in the Okanagan including Mission Creek, Black Mountain Irrigation District, Summerland and Peachland.
The project in Southeast Kelowna is expected to take 3 years.