Identify Priorities in Your Community: Additional Information on Wildfires

 

The following page contains a broad array of information about wildires collected during Phase One (2008-2009) of CBT's Communities Adapting to Climate Change Initiative. Some of the material included herein can be found in the final reports or guidebooks, but some cannot. This webpage is not a formal factsheet; it contains fragments of information and bits of knowledge that we hope will be useful to you.

The following information regarding wildfire adaptation has been provide by George Penfold (Selkirk College), Lara Whitely Bender (University of Washington CIG), Hans Schreier (UBC), and Peter Hisch (MoF).

  • There are fuel designates that work on treatment in each region, however they are not necessarily knowledgeable about climate change. There are firefighters in the local area: Columbia (Revelstoke), Golden, Cranbrook, Invermere, Arrow Lake (Castlegar), Kootenay Lake (Nelson).

 

  • For information in the West Kootenays contact: Call Ron Cassion from SE Fire Center in Castlegar

 

 

  • Regarding underground lines, you can do that as part of new subdivision requirements.

 

  • Focus on buildings as part of Fire Smart and not just vegetation management. The greatest opportunities for protection are in buildings.

 

  • As far as fire and flooding response is concerned, you may want to consider an emergency preparedness plan under the provincial PEP initiative.

 

 

  • Regarding Climate Change Adaptation Wildfire Strategies: It's suggested to work with regional partners on selective thinning and other practices to help reduce the risk of fire in medium and high priority fire risk areas.

 

  • Fire Hazard: Identify and designate easily accessible water sources such as lakes in the proximity of the town that could be used for fire fighting from the air.

 

  • Funding Options: 1. Community wildfire protection funding: Identify high hazard,$15,000 from province, community matches (can be in-kind or other) 2. Pilot project: Community wants to try something such as fuel treatment, equipment, etc., $25,000 3. Prescription development: 100% funded by province,Can apply for this even without the plan 4. Operational fuel management treatment: unlimited size/$,50:50 cost sharing with province

 

A Community's Questions and Answers from the Experts:


Q: Where can I get information on historic wildfire patterns in the Elk Valley?

A: From Rob Walker, Parks Canada Wildfire specialist

  • Steve Taylor (Pacific Forestry Centre - CFS) maintains a database of historical fires. I believe he chose 1950 because the data is much more reliable after that point. There are also old linen maps with the earlier fires on them if you really like digitizing. I guess it all depends on your research questions.
  • Another potential source of information is Rick Arthur of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. He is their fire history guy and knows the Alberta area across the provincial line really well.
  • For more information, from the general area but not that specific valley, see the following articles: 1) Klenner et al (2008) Dry forests in the Southern Interior of British Columbia: Historic disturbances  and implications for restoration and management. Forest Ecology and Management, and 2) Noss et al (2006) Managing fire-prone forests in the western United States. Front Ecol Environ 4(9): 481–487

A: Response from Kari Stuart-Smith, an ecologist working for Tembec:

  • I suggest your student contact Lori Daniels at UBC and get her info. But I do think the upper Elk Valley very likely had a much more severe fire regime, judging from my work on the ground there. Lots of homogenous pine stands, and very few Larch and Doug Fir. I don't know about the ICH stands in the middle Elk either, it is very wet there, so likely a lower frequency but high intensity as well.

 

Q: Elkford has extensive pine beetle kill within and surrounding the District which is creating a higher risk of wildfires. Elkford is currently conducting a fuel reduction (thinning) program within its boundaries. Do you have any resources or information on the process for Elkford to manage or help with the management of Pine Beetle infested forests adjacent to the municipal boundary (on Crown Land).What sort of relationship can Elkford forge with the Ministry of Forest and Range?

A: From Mark Fercho, Integrated Sustainability Planning Leader

  • To manage the crown land in the city we worked with the province on a community forest licence, and have been managing the crown land since. The licence provides for (same as all CFA’s) an 85% break on stumpage, and our management plan is specific to fire fuel reduction, so the work we do on crown land achieves that first, with other objectives of course.
  • To deal with other land owners, including the province, outside or inside the boundaries, it takes having the wildfire plan in place then communicating individually to those folks on the risks and need to conduct work. Sometimes they do it without asking, sometimes it takes some political pressure on the larger owners (which takes you having a lot of homework completed before hand). The legal “forcing” someone to do something we have only used when they had created a hazard beyond what nature created by just killing the trees (such as cutting and leaving or having piles) using the fire department authority. We have not legally required anyone to treat anything that was an increased fire hazard naturally. They do get pressure from neighbors, us, other fire officials, etc and from what I have seen, not many leave the area untreated.
  • The work we do is included in programs such as NRCAN, UBCM, Service Canada, and the new BC JOP for the majority of funding, but also find funds and support from companies, the province, utilities, government agencies with land, etc, to do the work. The number one building block is a solid fire fuel management plan to work from.
  • Our website that lists the programs, including past helping residents with the beetle kill is posted on our city website, just click on the beetle icon, or follow this link: http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/rec_culture/parks/urbanforestry/ The page is a bit dated and needs update, but the programs that may help are listed at the bottom.
  • We do have a relationship built with MoF through years of working together, but they have an agenda that drives their workplan, we communicate to help them understand our needs, in this area as well as other issues, such as access, smoke, etc. MoF is aware of community needs for fire fuel reduction. Mike Dittaro is the new superintendent of fuel management, and might be a person to talk to at MoF if you have specific concerns and you don’t have a local relationship or contact.

 

Q: Many residents do not want fuel modification work done on or near their property (they don’t want to see clear cuts!). Any ideas on easing people’s concerns regarding fuel reduction/ thinning?

A: From Lauren Phillips, Prince George Wildfire

  • It appears you’re taking every effort to look at these issues in a comprehensive manner. Unfortunately you’ve hit on the very issues that we’re all dealing with; individual’s resistance to change and resistance to operations near their homes, and the challenges that climate change wreaks on our planning. I have no silver bullets at this point, but I can pass along what we’re endeavouring to do.
  • Due to the mixed species and ages of many of our Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB)-infested stands, we’ve been able to conduct specialized operations that leave a high percentage of retention of advance regen and of other species, whenever possible. (At times we’ve modified the original fuel reduction prescriptions to reflect other values such as visual quality, recreation, etc). So we’ve been able to demonstrate that we’re not clear cutting (except in a couple spots that were 100% infected Pl). This comes at extremely high costs, however; the specialized fallers and tiny equipment required to have a small footprint and to leave as many stems as possible are several times more costly than a typical clear cutting operation (but of course we’ve been able to recoup most of our costs through UBCM and NRCAN funding). Communication with nearby residents is key, as you’ve already identified. Our initial planning process for the entire City was made available to the public, and naturally the website is important... even though it is out of date at the moment. Then, whenever starting a new site, we have our contractors knock on doors and distribute pamphlets to the nearby property owners, explaining what we’re doing and why. It also provides them my phone number, to give them ample opportunity to comment or complain.
  • I suggest an open house or two at the beginning of your planning to educate the public, and to listen to their specific concerns.

 

Q: Are there any guidebooks and/or best practices for remediation of fuel modified forests taking into account: future climatic conditions (changing biogeoclimatic zones), MPB and fire resistance?

A: As for species selection for planting with climate change in mind. . . . I’m afraid we’re all feeling our way through the dark here. I’m not aware of any guidebooks yet, but I know that a huge amount of research is being conducted around the province to examine this very issue. My approach is to replant a variety of species, both deciduous and coniferous, with the odd southern species thrown in as a bit of an experiment (more larch, Douglas fir, and we’re thinking about some Scandinavian species as well). Sticking with local species but using providences of lower elevation or latitude is another approach to consider. If you uncover any information or guidance going forward, please pass it along! Meanwhile, I suggest that you write quite a bit of flexibility into your planning documents, so that you can take advantage of new information as it comes out. We also built in stocking standards that are very different from the provincial standards, which were approved in our planning document by the Province.


Q: Fuel hazard = ‘risk of occurring’. If there is a slash pile adjacent town, it’s a hazard, but is it a risk?

A: From Peter Hisch, Wildfire Management Program, MoF, Fuel Management Branch

  • It's a hazard only if it has potential to cause economic or environmental losses.

 

Q: How can Elkford collaborate with adjacent land owners/the Province in wildfire planning?

A: From Peter Hisch, Wildfire Management Program, MoF, Fuel Management Branch

  • Community forest license? Not sure if this is necccesary in Elkford? Do they have the capacity? Resources? What is required? Funding? (current licence holder has right of refusal!)
  • Talk to Crown-forest District office (Tony Wadeski?)
  • BCTS (timber sales) may have some tenure in area? (District area office; look at forest tenure map to find out)
  • Tembeck has a license; Elkford should find out their future harvesting plans?

 

Q: It seems that much of the Firesmart planning/ funding in BC focuses on cutting down trees, rather than Firesmarting homes and properties. What is your opinion on this balance?

A: From Peter Hisch, Wildfire Management Program, MoF, Fuel Management Branch

  • If you have pine, you have to take them all down! No choice. They are going to fall eventually.
  • If your home/ infrastructure isn’t flammable, then it doesn’t matter what is around it.
  • The will and the money has to be there.
  • If stands are too close, then the radiant heat alone can cause damage.
  • In a perfect world, if you FireSmarted everything, then treatments would be way less.
  • Insurance companies are not there. They don’t say ‘Firesmart your home and you get a discount’. There is no insurance discount for FireSmart homes.
  • It’s your property, look after it.
  • Evacuation Plans are legislated for all communities in BC

 

Key points pertaining to wildfire from Elkford's Final Report (pages 46-48)


  • The District of Langford’s Interface Fire Hazard Planning Model includes numerous examples of local governments across BC using legal tools to mitigate interface fires including: Development permits, subdivision and servicing bylaws, zoning bylaws, building bylaws and land title covenants. http://www.cityoflangford.ca/documents/brochures/FireInterface_Doc.pdf
  • Bill 10 includes new provisions for municipalities to enhance their building codes. The code remains an area of concurrent influence, meaning that any municipal regulations that exceed the code would need to be approved by the Province.

 

For more information on useful resources pertaining to wildfires, see the Resources section of Kimberley's Case Study or the Resources section of Elkford's Case Study.