If you’ve driven by the Nadina fire control headquarters in Burns Lake recently, you may have noticed a yard empty of vehicles. Local crews have been busy responding to a wildfire season that is already well underway.
As of May, 9, 2013, seven wildfires had already broken out in the northwest fire zone.
“All of these fires have been person caused as a result of slash-pile burning or grass burning,” said Suzanne Pearce, Information Officer with the Northwest Fire Centre (NWFC).
“Of the nine fires, three of them have been in the Nadina zone which encompasses the Lakes District.”
The most recent fire, at press time, was reported last Wednesday evening. Forty kilometres east of Burns Lake a slash-pile burn turned into a 15 hectare wildfire, the largest so far in the Nadina fire zone.
A second fire near Maxan Lake - this one nine hectares - on May 4 was successfully dealt with by land and air crews.
The third fire in the Nadina fire zone was an approximate 15 hectare fire near Wakefield Rd., 26 kilometres west of Houston just north of Hwy 16. It was reported on May 3 and was in mop-up stage by May 9.
Weather across the region is expected to remain hot and dry until Sunday. The fire danger rating is moderate to high throughout the Northwest fire region.
Going into this weekend, the Lakes District is the driest area in the region, with a “high” fire danger rating through most of area.
According to the fire centre, most fires this time of the year are preventable.
To avoid having a crew from B.C. Wildfire Management show up in your backyard, the NWFC makes several recommendations. If you must burn, ensure that you have enough people, water and tools to control the fire; avoid burning during windy conditions; create a one-metre fire guard around planned burn areas; never leave a fire unattended.
There are legal ramifications to contravening fire regulations. The provincial Wildfire Act specifies that a person may, in some circumstances, be held legally and financially responsible for damages and costs associated with a wildfire and its suppression.
Wildfires, or any unattended fire, can be reported toll-free to 1 800 663-5555, or *5555 on your cellphone.
Within the municipality of the Village of Burns Lake, any open burning at this time of the year requires a permit from the village office.
In the case of an open fire ban issued by the Ministry of Forests, you can be sure the village has followed suit.