Wildfire Fuel Mitigation Work Around Nelson

Representatives from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, BC Parks (West Arm Park), local foresters, Celgar, Kalesnikoff Mass Timber & Lumber, BC Wildfire, RDCK, Mayor John Dooley and the Nelson Fire Chief attended a field trip to view the mitigation work completed last year as part of the wildfire fuel mitigation that included the area of Svoboda Road, Anderson Creek Timber and West Arm Park. 

The mitigation work shown in the photo represents some of the treated lands that had a significant number of trees that had blown down over the past number of years and brush that would have greatly contributed to wildfire spread along the ground as ladder fuels and allow fire to easily move up into the forest crown.  After careful machine work and the completion of work by hand crews, BC Wildfire conducted a controlled burn to reduce the remaining ground fuels. This was the smoke that was visible last fall from Nelson (see photo). 

All groups involved view the collaborative efforts as extremely successful. This mitigation work provided an excellent example of how various levels of government, private landowners and industry can work together to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes that result in an enhanced forest that reduces the risk of intense wildfires. It is also an example of how lands around Nelson can be treated to reduce the risk of wildfire spread and allow the forest to be better utilized. One of the challenges in conducting wildfire fuel mitigation around Nelson, and most communities, is that most surrounding lands are privately owned. However, the proposed Kalesnikoff Selous Creek project is another important effort that will add to the wildfire mitigation objectives around Nelson.