In The Field

TimberWest Fall Burning Season is Here

TimberWest's North and South Island operations have begun their fall burning program now that the cool, damp weather has returned and the fire danger rating has dropped.

All burning must comply with the Environmental Management Act including the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation. TimberWest is also a signatory to the East and South Vancouver Island Burn Plan which offers guidelines for ventilation and the proximity of blocks to residential areas.

First Nation’s crews as well as other experienced local contractors are being employed to carry out TimberWest's burning activities.

Prior to any burning, TimberWest develops a comprehensive burn plan in conjunction with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to ensure safety and environmental considerations are addressed.

Why does TimberWest Burn?

Burning is one way that TimberWest manages slash from harvesting operations in order to mitigate the risk of wildfire. Burning is a valuable tool particularly around developed areas where TimberWest works hard to reduce the risk that an unplanned fire could spread into a community.

A second benefit of burning is to prepare the site for reforestation. Good site preparation reduces competition from invasive and other species for sunlight, moisture and nutrients.