Big Bar Wildfire Risk Reduction – Phase 2

This project is focused on reducing wildfire risk in forested areas near Big Bar Lake, which is located approximately 40 kilometres west of Clinton, B.C. The areas were identified as priorities for wildfire risk mitigation by the 100 Mile House Resource District. The joint project with Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation (formerly Dog Creek Indian Band & Canoe Creek Indian Band) has provided employment for local crews for two years. Crews worked to create landscape-level fuel breaks, 100 to 300 metre-wide areas of reduced fuels by decreasing the number of trees, pruning others from the ground up to shoulder height to remove ladder fuels, and clearing ground fuels through piling and burning. The fuel break runs for several kilometres in key areas around Big Bar Lake. Future treatments such as low-intensity prescribed burns or cutting of new growth will be required in the area to ensure the objectives of the fuel break are maintained.