Those who see smoke and fire at Rocky Point on the Canadian Forces Base near Victoria need not worry.
The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) announced on Thursday, September 12th that a prescribed burn is scheduled to take place in this area.
The burn site is around 13 kilometres southeast of Sooke on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.
The BCWS warns that smoke may be visible to residents in Victoria as well as surrounding communities.
The blaze could begin as early as today, September 12th, however, the exact timing of this burn will depend on weather and site conditions.
The conditions the BCWS are looking for are those that would allow for adequate smoke dispersal during the burn, though regardless, light smoke may linger in the days following this burn.
Up to 50 hectares of land at Rocky Point will be burned over one to five days between mid-September and early-October, similar to years’ past since 2017.
“The goal of this prescribed burn is to mitigate wildfire risks, maintain open natural landscapes for military training, and protect and restore rare Garry Oak ecosystems which support a large number of species at risk,” said the BCWS in a media release.
“Key goals are to mimic naturally occurring ground fires, reduce the accumulations of dead and combustible material, and decrease the risk of future catastrophic wildfires in the area.”
The prescribed burn will be orchestrated by the BCWS.
