Kelowna-area prescribed-fire training exchange begins with six candidate burn sites
A City of Kelowna photo accompanying its Sept. 17 prescribed-fire announcement shows crews working along a controlled burn line.
Photo credit: City of Kelowna
KELOWNA — The B.C. Prescribed Fire Training Exchange, known as TREX, begins Monday in Kelowna and surrounding communities, with six sites identified as possible burn projects if weather, site and smoke-dispersal conditions permit.
The exchange runs from Sept. 28 to Oct. 9 and is being facilitated by the BC Wildfire Service and City of Kelowna. BCWS has said prescribed burning could begin as early as Sept. 28. No ignition confirmation appeared on BC Wildfire Service or City of Kelowna web pages checked Monday morning.
Three of the possible projects are within Kelowna. Gallaghers South, in the Jean Road Trails area of Gallaghers Canyon, could include up to 18.8 hectares. Up to 21 hectares could be treated at Knox Mountain/Boyce Marsh, about six kilometres north of central Kelowna, while the Quail Ridge project could cover up to 26 hectares in Quail Ridge Linear Park.
The other candidate sites are Jack Seaton Park, where 3.2 hectares could be burned about four kilometres northwest of Winfield; Spion Kop, with up to 30 hectares about six kilometres north of the centre of Lake Country; and Long Acre-Apollo Road, where up to 7.2 hectares could be treated about six kilometres southwest of central Vernon.
BCWS describes the six locations as candidate projects where prescribed-fire training may take place during the exchange. Individual burns will proceed only when weather and site conditions are suitable and smoke can disperse appropriately.
TREX provides hands-on training in prescribed-fire planning, ignition, holding and monitoring in wildland-urban interface areas. BCWS says the exchange is intended to bring together structural and wildland fire practitioners, with participation that can include First Nations, academics, consultants and contractors.
Prescribed fire is also being used as part of fuel-management work intended to reduce the intensity of future wildfires. The City of Kelowna says its projects are designed to reduce excess vegetation and wildfire risk while supporting ecological health.
At Gallaghers South, the city has identified protection of the Jean Road Reservoir, emergency access, nearby homes and infrastructure among the project objectives. Work there is intended to reduce grasses, needles, litter and other fine woody fuels. Similar fine-fuel reduction is planned at Quail Ridge.
Residents may see smoke from Kelowna and surrounding communities if burns proceed, and smoke could remain visible after active burning is complete. The City of Kelowna also advises that prescribed-fire operations can result in temporary air-quality impacts, trail or area closures and increased activity from crews and equipment.
Several upper trails at Knox Mountain would close during prescribed-fire operations, including Apex, Shale, Simpson, the Pavilion and the top lookout. Knox Mountain Drive is expected to remain available to cyclists and pedestrians. Temporary closures could also affect trails or park areas at Gallaghers South and Quail Ridge while burning is underway.
The timing of any burn during TREX will depend on conditions at the individual site. Residents should rely on current BC Wildfire Service and local-government notices for confirmation before assuming smoke or fire activity in one of the six areas is connected to an active prescribed burn.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has approved funding for a post-wildfire rainfall-monitoring pilot in priority areas affected by the Bald Range wildfire in Electoral Area F.