The municipality will be removing what it considers to be fire hazards at the Brackendale Farmers’ Institute and the area around the Squamish Airport.
With an aim to reduce potential fuel for flames, the District said in a news release it will be removing woody debris and trees smaller than 12.5 centimetres in diameter; partially removing trees between 12.5 and 17 centimetres and “danger trees,” which may be larger than those specified.
The District has contracted Spectrum Resource Group to do the work, which will take place between Jan. 5 through the end of March. The BFI Park will remain open to the public during the work, with work areas sign-posted for safety.
“Applying fuel treatments to forested areas in the community is one of the recommendations of the 2017 Community Wildfire Protection Plan, and we are pleased to have received provincial grant money to do this work,” said Mayor Karen Elliott in a news release dated Jan. 5.
“This is the latest in the District’s efforts towards wildfire mitigation and builds on the FireSmart work staff have been conducting in neighbourhoods within the wildland-urban interface areas.”
Signage will be in place at the park to keep the public well away from the work areas.
In the BFI park, removals will occur over 4.85 hectares along its northern and eastern edges.
the airport area, the work will take place over 7.4 hectares of forest between the airport and Government Road.
The District said it plans to chip and haul away the debris. Some of it may also be burned.
A professional forester will monitor the work, which will include environmental oversight, the municipality said.
