The source of that smoky smell and haze all over Victoria has been uncovered.
Starting Wednesday afternoon, a controlled burn is being conducted by the BC Wildfire Service at the Canadian Armed Forces base at Rocky Point in Metchosin.
According to the Langford Fire Rescue, Langford, Happy Valley and the surrounding area is currently under smoke advisory potentially for the next three days.
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However the haze can be seen and smelled in downtown Victoria, and some have reported smelling smoke as far away as Gordon Head.
This 20-hectare prescribed burn was first announced by the Wildfire Service last week, as a way to restore and preserve Garry Oak ecosystems.
“Historically, First Nation communities maintained the grassy plains at these sites by burning off dry grasses, shrubs and young trees that are less tolerant of fire than Garry oaks,” reads a statement from the BC Wildfire Service.
“These ecosystems relied on regular, low-intensity ground fires to limit the spread of competing tree species, remove accumulations of dead wood and other vegetation, and promote new growth.”
Bringing fire back into these areas is a good way to control invasive species and prevent the encroachment of conifer trees into these specialized ecosystems.
A second controlled burn will be conducted either in September or October at the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve about six kilometres northeast of Duncan.
