More forest-health management measures are being taken within Prince George’s city limits starting today (Nov. 2).
The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says, when conditions are appropriate, its members will be conducting periodic pile burns between Otway Road and Foothills Boulevard until the end of November to mitigate trees impacted by the spruce beetle last spring.
“Trap trees are trees that have been cut down and deliberately left lying on the ground to attract harmful adult spruce beetles in the spring,” the BCWS' Prince George Fire Centre team explained in an update this morning.
“The beetles are more likely to infest a trap tree than standing trees, so this technique can greatly reduce spruce beetle attacks on healthy trees nearby.”
The project is also being done to reduce the risk of future wildfires in areas of urban development and to better the overall health of local forests.
As a result of the practice, smoke and flames are set to be visible to nearby homes and residences, but firefighters will be on-site to control and monitor the pile burns.
Air quality, the BCWS says, will be impacted as little as possible in compliance with B.C.’s open burning and smoke control regulations.
Communities northwest of downtown Prince George that may witness this include:
- Otway Road
- Foothills Boulevard
- North Nechako Road
- Chief Lake Road
- Hart Highlands
For more information, you can visit the BC Wildfire Service website.
