A prescribed burn is in the works for the Moose Meadows area of Banff National Park as part of ongoing efforts to help protect the Town of Banff from a future runaway wildfire.
But first, trees cut down in the winter of 2010-2011 will be burned in the coming weeks between the Bow River and Canadian Pacific Railway near Moose Meadows on Bow Valley Parkway.
Officials say this work is part of a long-term goal to build a valley-wide firebreak just east of Castle Junction that can slow down a wildfire approaching the Town of Banff.
“By analysing how wildfires have moved through our area in the past, we can identify key places where fuel reduction techniques can be effective,” said Jane Park, fire and vegetation ecologist for Banff National Park.
“Actively treating these areas will create strategic fuel breaks to protect our communities from wildfire.”
Park said burning of the log piles is important because Parks Canada is currently planning a prescribed fire in this vicinity to reduce the risk of wildfire in the Bow Valley corridor.
“The planning phase of this prescribed fire will occur over 2013/2014,” she said.
The burning of the logged trees is expected to occur between Monday (Jan. 28) and Feb. 6, depending on the weather. Fire crews will target days with good venting conditions to limit the effects of smoke.
People who are highly sensitive to smoke can contact Banff Park Dispatch at 403-762-1470 and ask to speak with a fire and vegetation specialist to be added to the smoke sensitive list. This list allows Parks Canada to contact people to warn them of smoke or fires.
Meanwhile, between 75 and 100 trees that have been deemed hazardous are being cut down in Parks Canada’s administration grounds and Cascade Gardens.
Park said the trees – mostly spruce and aspen with a few lodgepole pines – potentially pose a safety risk to people or infrastructure, as there’s a chance they could break or fall, particularly during high winds.
“As a landowner, we’re obligated to do our due diligence to make sure places where people spend time are assessed for dangerous trees,” she said.
