Fuel management projects play a crucial role in wildfire risk reduction. By pruning trees, removing combustible materials, and utilizing prescribed fire, these projects not only make it less likely for wildfire to start, but enhance our ability to respond to those that do

Current Projects

Forest Surrounding the Selkirk Silver King Campus

A local contract crew will begin wildfire mitigation work in spring of 2025 on 3.4 hectares of forested land near the Selkirk College Silver King campus. This work is part of Nelson’s ongoing wildfire risk reduction effort throughout the city and is fully grant-funded through the provincial Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) program.

 Working in accordance with site-specific prescriptions developed by a registered professional forester, the project will focus on selective fuel reduction. The primary work will involve thinning and spacing younger conifer trees, pruning branches up to 3 meters from the ground, and removing dead trees and woody debris. These treatments help reduce the chances of a surface fire climbing into the canopy through what are called "ladder fuels" and spreading to nearby trees. By addressing downed material and excessive debris, the overall fuel load is reduced, lowering the potential intensity and spread of a wildfire. Additionally, fires that occur in areas that have been treated are significantly easier for response crews to manage.

In most of the treatment areas, the cut branches and debris will be chipped and transported off-site for disposal. In some areas, pile burning will be utilized to manage the debris in a cost-effective manner and return nutrients to the soil.  All burning will be conducted in full compliance with provincial smoke management regulations under appropriate venting conditions in order to minimize the impacts of smoke in the community.

Some recreational trails may be temporarily closed for safety during active work periods. These closures will be brief, and trails will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.

Recent Projects

2024 Municipal Land Fuel Treatments
In fall of 2024, crews completed fuel management on eight areas of municipally-owned land throughout the city, totaling over 10 hectares.  The treatment covered a larger area near the cemetery, west of Gyro Park and various other smaller parcels of forested lands throughout the city. The fuel modification initiative was fully grant-funded through the provincial Community Resiliency Investment program, administered by the Columbia Basin Trust.

2023 Highway Interchange Project
A  three-phase wildfire risk reduction project around the Hwy 6 / Hwy 3A interchange that was started in 2023 and completed in fall of 2024.

Phase one: A hand treatment was completed in October 2023 on City of Nelson and Crown land under the guidance of professional foresters with provincial grant funds accessed through the Community Resiliency Investment Program. The treatment covering 5.7 hectares, saw the removal of lower limbs from all conifers to 2 meters above the ground and the removal of all woody debris and fuels from the surface. This work reduces the potential intensity of a wildfire in the area and helps prevent the spread of a potential surface fire to the trees along this valuable evacuation corridor. All excess woody debris was removed from the site.

Phase two: A prescribed burn was completed on April 2^nd 2024 by Nelson Fire & Rescue Services (NFRS), with the support of the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).  This controlled burn effectively removed years of accumulated dry grass, significantly lowering the risk of wildfire ignition in the coming summer and subsequent seasons.  

Residents in adjacent areas were notified in advance of the operation, allowing for necessary preparations such as closing windows to minimize the impact of smoke. The community's understanding and cooperation were instrumental in the successful execution of this project.

The burned areas will rejuvenate with fresh, green grass, creating a healthier and more fire-resistant landscape. This regeneration process follows that of the natural cycle of wildfire and re-growth in less urban ecosystems.  Some areas were excluded from the burn to reduce the spread of invasive species that respond positively to fire.

In addition to managing the hazard of the dry grass, the prescribed burn provided a valuable training opportunity for NFRS to work hand in hand with the BCWS as the fire department continues improving its wildfire response capacity.  This dovetails with the broader strategy being adopted across the province as other municipalities and First Nations re-introduce fire onto the landscape through prescribed burning for both fuel management and cross-training purposes.

Phase three: In one section of the treatment area where the prescribed burn was conducted, the grass has been replaced with native plant and flower species.   The new plants were chosen to support various pollinating insects in the region including the Monarch butterfly.  This “Monarch Waystation” will provide a valuable migration path for the butterflies and other pollinators that will use the flowers for a source of nectar and reproductive habitat.  The selection of species and planting of the site was completed by the Kootenay Native Plant Society.

Click here to view a map of the Hwy 6 / 3A treatment area.

Click Here For more information about the Svoboda joint training exercise.

Click Here To learn more about Prescribed Fire

Volunteer Events

In addition to those projects completed by professional forestry crews, numerous volunteer events have been organized where community members come together to clear away excess vegetation, deadwood, and other potential fire fuels. These collective efforts not only bolster the safety of our neighborhoods but also foster community spirit and awareness about the importance of mitigating wildfire risks. In 2023 roughly 5.5 hectares were treated with the help of volunteers including projects on the Rail Trail and Art Gibbon Park. If you’d like to get involved, please visit our FireSmart Public Events Page.

Fuel Management Outside The City

Across all local jurisdictions, landscape-level mitigation projects have been completed to aid in wildfire prevention including nearby in Selous Creek, The RDCK, West Arm Provincial Park, and Kokanee Creek Provincial Park.

Outside of Nelson, BC Parks has developed the West Arm Provincial Park Fire Management Plan to protect park values in the event of a wildfire, while the RDCK continues to update its Community Wildfire Protection Plan Program with information and guidance for communities adjacent to Nelson.

Visit the RDCK Wildfire Risk Reduction page for more information about what is being done to reduce the impacts of wildfire in these areas.

Questions or Comments?

We encourage you to bring forward any questions or concerns that you might have about these projects to the Wildfire Resilience Program Coordinator at Nelson Fire & Rescue Services by calling (250) 352-8116 or emailing firesmart@nelson.ca