Where there’s smoke there’s controlled fire at Kenna Cartwright Park

NEWS — There were smoke and flames in Kenna Cartwright Nature Park today but it was all part of a controlled burn to get rid of ground fuel.

The City of Kamloops is partnering with the provincial Wildfire Management Branch, Kamloops Fire Rescue and a local contractor to perform the prescribed burn, which started Wednesday.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has had a crew in the park doing site preparation work, which will include slashing and piling of debris, clearing areas around wildlife trees so that they are preserved, and ensuring that existing trails and roads are cleared and will act as fire boundaries.

A “black line” has been put in along the eastern boundary where there are no existing roads or natural fire guards. A black line consists of a controlled burn strip that prevents fire from spreading, since there are no longer fuels available in that area.

The Wildfire Management Branch staff and the burn boss are monitoring the weather, venting index and site conditions to decide when burning should occur.

Signage at park entrances explains what a prescribed burn is and shows a map of the burn area. Park users are asked to stay out of the burn area for their safety, as well as the safety of crews working in the area.