| Prescribed
fires restoring ecosystems and
reducing potential for large-scale wildfires in
Kananaskis Country
September 27, 2011 update:
Buller Creek Trail & Vicinity:
As a result of the recently-completed prescribed fire in the Buller Creek
area, hikers may encounter smoke and open flame on the Buller Creek Trail
and in the immediate vicinity.
Caution is recommended. As crews continue
to monitor the area, it is not necessary to report smoke in the vicinity of
Buller Creek.
September 9, 2011 update:
Buller Creek Area:
The closures related to the Buller Creek Prescribed Fire have now been
lifted. The Buller Creek Trail, North and South Buller Passes, and the
scramble routes to Mt. Buller and Mt. Engadine are now open.
August 30, 2011 update:
Buller Creek Prescribed Fire:
Please note the Rummel Lake route and pass is now open.
The main burn of the Buller Creek Prescribed Fire has ceased. However,
the following remains closed: The area from the east shore of the Spray
Lakes Reservoir east to Mt. Buller including the height of land extending to
Buller Pass, south to The Tower, along the ridge back west to Hwy 742
(Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trial), North to the Spray Lakes Reservoir.
The Buller Creek Trail, North and South Buller Pass, and the scrambles to
Mt. Buller and Mt. Engadine all remain closed.
Highway 742 (Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail) remains open
August 30, 2011 update:
Buller Creek Prescribed Fire:
With wet weather, ignition operations have ceased at the Buller Creek Prescribed Fire. Please note that trails and routes in the area will remain closed until ground conditions are secure.
August 29, 2011 update:
Buller Creek Prescribed Fire:
Please note the main burn of the Buller Creek Prescribed Fire will begin on August 26th. This includes the area from the east shore of the Spray Lakes Reservoir east to Mt. Buller including the height of land extending to Buller Pass and south to The Tower and Mt. Galatea.
The Buller Creek Trail, North and South Buller Pass, and the scrambles to Mt. Buller and Mt. Engadine all remain closed. The Rummel Lake route and pass will be closed beginning August 26th. The Buller Pond will remain open unless required for urgent operations.
Highway 742 (the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Road) will remain open with some possible delays. Smoke may be present in the vicinity of Buller Pass, please note that fire crews will be in the area.
August 8, 2011 update:
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Preparations are underway to resume ignition operations on Tuesday, August 9th. The focus of Tuesday's operations will be the upper slopes, which may result in flames that are visible from greater distances.
Low-flying firefighting aircraft such as helicopters and airtankers will again active in the area. Aircraft may also be skimming on Barrier Lake and Kananaskis Lake.
To date, 251 hectares have been completed on the project. The Evan-Thomas Creek prescribed fire is 408 hectares in total, located in the Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park in the Kananaskis Valley.
The project is located approximately 30 kilometres southeast of Canmore, and five kilometres southeast of Kananaskis Village on Highway 40.
Please maintain a safe and respectful distance from crews and operations at all times. Evan-Thomas Creek Prescribed Fire Map
To see photos of the fire, please checkout the Alberta Wildfire Info Facebook page.
HOW MIGHT THIS AFFECT YOU?
- Smoke and occasional open flame will be visible.
- Traffic in the burn area on Highway 40 will be reduced to 50 kilometers per hour, with no stopping along the unit boundaries. Those wishing to view the fire are encouraged to visit viewpoints along the Rim Trail near Kananaskis Delta Lodge or at Wedge Pond.
- The Evan-Thomas Trail and area north of Evan-Thomas Creek are closed. An area around the south shore of Wedge Pond will be closed for public safety during water bucketing operations. No boats are permitted on Wedge Pond. Please see advisory poster (right) for details.
WHY?
By imitating wildfire in a controlled manner, prescribed fires in Kananaskis Country will:
- help protect nearby communities from the threat of future wildfires in the area,
- restore the diversity of the vegetation and
- improve and expand wildlife habitat.
Operations to date are successfully achieving these goals.
More information: 1-866-916-INFO (4636) for recorded updates
Karen Ritchie, Wildfire Information Officer: (403) 819-7262
August 2, 2011 update:
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
The Evan-Thomas prescribed fire is commencing today. The area shown
on the map is closed until further notice. This includes the Evan-Thomas
Trail, Wedge Connector and vicinity.
The Evan-Thomas Creek prescribed fire is 408 hectares, located
in the Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park in the Kananaskis Valley.
The project is located approximately 30 kilometres southeast of
Canmore, and five kilometres southeast of Kananaskis Village on
Highway #40.
July 15, 2011 update:
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Preparations are underway to recommence the Buller Creek prescribed
fire project in Kananaskis Country.
Crews will be in the area through the coming days to establish work
sites and lay hoses.
HOW THIS MIGHT AFFECT YOU
Crews, trucks and helicopter activity may be seen.
Highway 742 will remain open and no traffic delays are expected.
The Buller Creek prescribed fire unit is located 20 kilometres south
of Canmore along Highway 742, and is approximately 950 hectares
(ha) in size. In 2010, approximately 35 ha of guard was established.
2011 operations will complete the guard, and proceed to main unit.
Fire managers will only proceed when they can ensure a safe operation
that will meet the overall objectives of the prescribed fire,while
minimizing smoke-related issues.
WHEN?
The area shown on the map is closed for prescribed fire around Buller
Creek in Spray Valley Provincial Park, effective July 19, 2011 until
further notice.
April 15, 2011 update:
If you’re visiting Kananaskis
country this year, you might see forest renewal in action.
Good to know: Why
are the trees red?
The provincial government is planning several prescribed fires
in Kananaskis Country. By imitating natural wildfire in a controlled
manner, these projects will:
· help protect nearby communities from the threat of future
wildfires in the area;
· restore the diversity of vegetation;
· improve and expand wildlife habitat; and
· remove prime pockets of mountain pine beetle habitat.
The 408 hectare Evan-Thomas prescribed fire is located in the Elbow-Sheep
Wildland Provincial Park, approximately 5 km southeast of Kananaskis
Village. It will be operational in spring and summer 2011, but will
not take place during May 15-June 7, July 1-August 1, or September
2-5 inclusive.
The 950 hectare Buller Creek and 560 hectare Mt. Nestor prescribed
fires are located in the Bow Valley Wildland/Spray Valley Provincial
Parks, approximately 20 km south of Canmore. These projects will
take place between May 1 and September 30, 2011.
Some backcountry users and nearby communities may be impacted by
temporary trail and facility closures, with smoke potentially affecting
visibility and respiratory health. Smoke may be visible during burning
operations, and may settle into nearby valleys during overnight
and early-morning periods. Every effort will be made to minimize
smoke impacts, by choosing the best atmospheric conditions for burning.
Major health organizations and residents self-identified as smoke-sensitive
will be contacted prior to burning.
For more information on these prescribed
fires: 1-866-916-INFO(4636)
These prescribed fire plans are consistent with the objectives
of the Kananaskis Country Vegetation Strategy and the management
plans for the Spray Valley Provincial Park and the Bow Valley/Elbow
Sheep Wildland Provincial Parks.
Fire has shaped Alberta’s forests for generations, and is
nature’s way of achieving healthy and sustainable forests.
It recycles nutrients, helps plants reproduce and creates a mosaic
of vegetation types that provides habitat for a variety of wildlife
species.
The exclusion of fire from the landscape for the last 75 years
has contributed to an increase in the overall age of our forests,
a decrease in biodiversity, and a decline in forest health, paving
the way for insect outbreaks (such as the mountain pine beetle)
and large-scale uncontrollable wildfires.
Prescribed fire planning includes identifying a specific set of
conditions to ensure the safe and successful execution of each prescribed
fire. Whenever possible, prescribed fires are designed to mimic
nature by utilizing natural firebreaks like mountains and rivers.
Because safety is always the first priority for any prescribed
fire, firefighting staff and equipment are always on site and ready
to extinguish any unexpected activity on the fire line.
For recorded updates please call 1-866-916-INFO
(4636).
September 24, 2010 update:
Evan-Thomas prescribed fire operations set to begin Tuesday,
September 28
Fire managers are planning to begin guard burning for the Evan-Thomas
prescribed fire on Tuesday, September 28. If weather conditions remain
favourable, main unit burning will commence as soon as the guards
are complete. The Evan-Thomas prescribed fire is 408 hectares, located
in the Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park in the Kananaskis Valley.
The burn is about 30 kilometres southeast of Canmore, and five kilometres
southeast of Kananaskis Village on Highway #40.
For public safety reasons, the area surrounding the Evan-Thomas
Day Use area and much of the Wedge Pond Day Use area will be closed
during fire operations. The closures include:
- Evan-Thomas Day use area
- Evan-Thomas designated trail
- Evan-Thomas Fireroad (this trail will be closed from the day
use area to potentially Evan-Thomas Pass)
- Wedge Connector Trail
- Bill Milne Paved Bicycle Trail between Wedge Pond and its junction
with Highway #40
- Most of Wedge Pond Day Use area, including the trail around
Wedge Pond, Wedge Pond itself, and most facilities at Wedge Pond
including the outhouses.
- The closure area also affects access to the Wedge Scramble
and to undesignated trails up "Old Baldy", "Mount
McDougall" as well as "Fisher Peak".
September 10, 2010 update: Hunting
Advisory
The area shown on this below map may be closed with short notice
for a prescribed fire around Evan-Thomas Creek in Elbow-Sheep Wildland
Provincial Park. If you have a hunting camp in the area or plan
to use the Evan-Thomas Creek Trail in September or October and require
access through the closed area. Arrangement must be made in advance
by contacting Rod Gow, Park Ecologist, at 403-620-3723.
Please note:
Until further notice, there are no
area or trail closures associated with the prescribed fire program.
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Three prescribed fires are planned this
year in Kananaskis Country. They are located in the Evan-Thomas
Valley, the Buller Creek, and Mount Nestor areas.
Fire has shaped Alberta’s forests for generations, and is
nature’s way of achieving healthy and sustainable forests.
It recycles nutrients, helps plants reproduce and creates a mosaic
of vegetation types that provides habitat for a variety of wildlife
species.
The exclusion of fire from the landscape for the last 75 years
has contributed to an increase in the overall age of our forests,
a decrease in biodiversity, and a decline in forest health, paving
the way for insect outbreaks (such as the mountain pine beetle)
and large-scale uncontrollable wildfires.
The Buller Creek prescribed fire is 950 hectares in size, and the
Mount Nestor prescribed fire is approximately 600 hectares in size
on provincial parks lands, plus large areas within national parks
lands. Both are located in the Bow Valley Wildland/Spray Valley
Provincial Parks. The Buller Creek and Mount Nestor prescribed fires
will take place in stages between May 1 and September 30, 2010.
The prescribed fire in the Evan-Thomas prescribed fire is located
in the Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park and will be operational
in spring and summer 2010, but will not take place over long weekends
or during the months of July or August. It is 408 hectares in size.
These prescribed fire plans are consistent
with the objectives of the Kananaskis Country Vegetation Strategy
and the management plans for the Spray Valley Provincial Park and
the Bow Valley/Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Parks. The main goals
of the prescribed fires are to restore the natural balance of our
forests, to restore vegetation diversity, to improve wildlife habitat
and to remove prime pockets of mountain pine beetle habitat.
• Prescribed fires help restore ecosystems, promote
healthy and resilient forests, and reduce the potential
for large-scale uncontrollable wildfires.
• Alberta’s prescribed fire program is a
proactive approach to wildfire management.
• A significant amount of planning, science and
consultation goes into each of Alberta’s prescribed
fires.
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Planning includes identifying a specific set of conditions to ensure
the safe and successful execution of each prescribed fire. Whenever
possible, prescribed fires are designed to mimic nature by utilizing
natural firebreaks like mountains and rivers.
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Top of Page
Because safety is always the first priority for any prescribed
fire, firefighting staff and equipment are always on site and ready
to extinguish any unexpected activity on the fire line.
For recorded updates please call 1-866-916-INFO (4636).
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