Planned Prescribed Fire – Invermere South (District Lot 4616)

Planned Prescribed Fire – Invermere South (District Lot 4616)

 In Fire Safety

 

The BC Wildfire Service, in collaboration with Invermere Fire Rescue and the Ministry of Forests, will be conducting a low‑intensity, carefully planned prescribed fire on the east side of the CastleRock subdivision, within District Lot 4616.

This work is part of ongoing wildfire risk reduction efforts in Invermere and has been developed through several years of planning. The objective of the prescribed fire is to reduce hazardous fuel buildup, improve forest health, and help protect nearby homes, infrastructure, and access routes from the impacts of severe wildfires.

Location

📍 District Lot 4616
East side of the CastleRock subdivision

Schedule (weather dependent)

  • Thursday: Site preparation and readiness
  • Friday, April 10: Burn operations
  • Saturday: Continued work and transition to mop‑up
  • Sunday onward: Mop‑up and monitoring (duration dependent on site conditions)

Active burning is expected to last up to 48 hours, followed by 3–5 days of mop‑up and monitoring. Burning will only proceed if weather, fuel moisture, and venting conditions are favourable.

If conditions are not suitable, operations may be postponed.

Project Details

  • Approximately 24.1 hectares are planned to be treated within a larger 49.3 hectare allowable burn area
  • The fire will be conducted under strictly controlled conditions by trained personnel
  • Equipment and suppression resources will be on site to manage the fire safely
  • Fire crews will remain in the area throughout the operation and post‑burn period

What to Expect

Residents and travellers may experience:

  • Visible flames and smoke during operations
  • Smoke lingering for several days after ignition
  • Smoke may settle overnight, particularly during calm conditions

Traffic signage may be deployed if smoke affects visibility on nearby routes.

Crews will remain on site following ignition to complete mop‑up and monitoring.

Area Closures

For public and crew safety:

  • The treatment area and surrounding trails may be temporarily closed for up to 7 days

Please respect posted signage and closures.

Health & Safety

Smoke Impacts

Smoke may cause:

  • Eye and throat irritation
  • Respiratory discomfort
  • Worsening of existing heart or lung conditions

Residents are encouraged to:

  • Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed
  • Use an air cleaner if available
  • Limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity
  • Seek medical advice if symptoms worsen

Clean Air Refuge

A temporary clean air refuge will be available in the lobby of the Columbia Valley Centre for anyone seeking relief from smoke during operations.

Public Information – On Site

On Friday, April 10, Sean, the District of Invermere’s Communications Coordinator, will be on site hosting a public information tent:

🕘 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
🕑 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Residents are welcome to stop by to ask questions or learn more about the prescribed fire.

Learn More

To learn more about prescribed fire and its role in wildfire risk reduction, visit:
👉 www.prescribedfire.ca

For More Information

 

BC Wildfire Service
Fire Information Officer
📧 BCWS.SEFCInformationOfficer@gov.bc.ca

 

Jason Roe
Fire Chief, Invermere Fire Rescue
📧 jroe@invermere.net

 

Cass Dearlove
FireSmart Coordinator, Invermere Fire Rescue
📧 firesmart@invermere.net

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