By Dave Branco

Wildfire mitigation

Crews gear up for wildfire fuel mitigation: targeting vulnerable areas to protect city

Feb 12, 2024 | 3:10 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The City of Prince George has given the green light to wildfire mitigation contractors to start thinning and removing deadwood from city lands at risk of escalating a forest fire. The months-long mitigation project is set to begin at the back of the Vanway Firehall.

Contract crews responsible for wildfire fuel mitigation have started clearing out potential fire accelerants to prevent the rapid spread of a wildfire. It is aimed to slow down the intensity of the flames should the wildfire encroach upon the city’s borders. The forested area is near Firehall number 3.

“We’ve identified a forest that’s high risk based on the forest composition and we’re doing fuel management to alter that composition to reduce the potential flammability.”

Conor Corbett

Northern MP pushes for rail safety info

5h ago

Wanted Wednesday

Man wanted on mischief and obstruction charges

6h ago

Class sizes a "good" number right now

6h ago

Diamond Head Consulting, Registered Forester

The project aims to remove fire fuels from the area and keep it a healthy-functioning forest.

The City’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan includes identifying areas of high risk, and this work is a part of that plan.

“ $200,000 of the program is being done under the union the B.C. Municipalities CRI Fund. And then another $53,000 of that is coming from the city.”

Jesse Labatiuk

Environmental Specialist, City of Prince George

Similar mitigation work was done in the Malaspina neighbourhood last year.

The city will avoid cutting mature trees and those crucial to preserving animal habitats. The entire 17-hectare project is expected to be completed before the end of August.

Email: Dave.Branco@pattisonmedia.com

TikTok: @DaveBrancoVJ