Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Vince Fedoroff

FIRESMARTING SCENE – This is the area on the Long Lake Road where the burning took place. The burn is an experiment to reduce fuels. Inset Kevin Lyslo

Burning conducted in Long Lake Road area

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

By Stephanie Waddell on April 24, 2017

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

But Whitehorse residents are reminded not to panic if they see smoke from the Long Lake Road area.

At last Tuesday evening’s council meeting, members learned about the joint plan between the city’s fire department and the territory’s Wildland Fire Management.

They received the information during a presentation by Whitehorse fire chief Kevin Lyslo and Keith Fickling, Wildland Fire Management’s regional protection manager.

As they told council, the two organizations have been looking at new ways of managing fire risk in the city.

Those include enhancements to the FireSmart program, clearing roads and trails and the burning that took place during the past weekend.

“The reduction of fuels along Long Lake Road is a pilot project to help determine if this is an acceptable practice for future use as part of an overall fuel reduction plan for the city,” Lyslo noted.

“It will also provide an opportunity for both agencies to work together, gain a better understanding of this tool, and strengthen our operational relationship.”

He went on to note the main part of the burning will happen over 34 hectares along the roadway and sewage lagoons.

To be burned are primarily matted grass and a small percentage of individual immature conifer and deciduous trees and shrubs.

Strict guidelines will be used factoring in humidity levels, wind direction and speed, smoke management and public impact and communication.

“Under no circumstance will burning take place if all of the prescribed requirements are not fully met,” Lyslo said.

Councillors Betty Irwin, Dan Boyd and Jocelyn Curteanu questioned the plans.

They wondered why the two agencies opted not to do more FireSmarting instead, as well as the choice of location, effectiveness and what plans are in place if they “overachieve” their objectives – and the planned fire spreads beyond what’s intended.

As Lyslo and Fickling explained, the plan provides an option to reduce fuel without a significant cost and presents a good training opportunity for firefighters.

“This is a fairly easy option without any additional expense for the city,” Lyslo said.

Fickling said the area provides easy accessibility while still keeping away from a lot of homes.

“This area seemed the most appropriate,” he said, noting the practice has been “very effective” in other regions of the country.

Given the prescriptive measures taken, there’s very little risk, the chief said.

In the highly unlikely scenario that the agencies do “overachieve” their objective, a wildfire would be declared and action would be taken.

The two officials also highlighted their plan for public communication.

It included the council presentation and a brief public service announcement that was issued last Thursday.

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