TimberWest curtails harvesting operations due to fire risk

TimberWest Forest Corp. has just taken extra steps to reduce the risk of wildfire on its private managed forest lands in British Columbia.

"Much of our land base is in close proximity to neighboring communities and the last thing we want is an interface fire," says TimberWest Vice President Timberland Operations, Dave Whiteley.

While the fire danger rating is extreme, TimberWest harvesting operations have been curtailed to reduce the chance that activities could spark a fire. Public access is also being restricted with the help of signage and locked gates, and in some cases security guards are helping enforce the closure. The Comox Lake Main Road is one example where, except for cabin owners and operational traffic, access is closed.

In conjunction with the campfire ban recently issued by the Ministry of Forests, TimberWest has also banned campfires on its private lands, including at its designated campgrounds at Nanaimo Lakes and in the Lake Cowichan area.

TimberWest has already had to respond to ten, person-caused wildfires on its approximately 320,000 hectares of private land on Vancouver Island this year.

Source: TimberWest