The Kelowna Fire Department in British Columbia is planning a series of prescribed burns across the city to reduce wildfire risk following a devastating wildfire season. These controlled burns, scheduled to take place over the next month, aim to reduce the amount of fuel available for potential wildfires by clearing out underbrush and dead vegetation. The department has identified several key areas, including Knox Mountain, where the burns will occur. This marks the second prescribed burn at Knox Mountain within the past year, highlighting the city's increasing reliance on this proactive approach to wildfire management. Dennis Craig, assistant chief of mitigation, risk and wellness with the Kelowna Fire Department, emphasized that prescribed fire does not eliminate wildfires but significantly reduces their severity and intensity should they occur. "We're very much Mother Nature dependent. Mother Nature picks the burn day. We don't choose the burn day," Craig explained, noting that factors such as temperature, humidity, and wind conditions will determine the timing of the burns. The initiative also serves as a training opportunity for firefighters across British Columbia through the B.C. Wildfire Service’s Training Exchange (TREX) program. Fire officials from various regions are invited to participate in the burns, gaining hands-on experience while helping to build capacity for prescribed fire across the province. This collaborative effort aims to develop skills necessary for conducting more prescribed burns, which have become increasingly common in B.C. The B.C. Wildfire Service completed 76 prescribed burns in 2025, up from 48 the previous year. Similar burns are also planned in Lake Country and the North Okanagan. Residents like Roy Shatz, who lives near Knox Mountain, support the proactive measures, citing the need to address the growing wildfire threat after witnessing the devastation caused by recent fires in Summerland. "We have to do more, I think, every year from now on," Shatz stated, reflecting the community's growing awareness of the necessity for ongoing wildfire risk management. The city's approach aligns with broader provincial efforts to integrate prescribed fire into wildfire management strategies, recognizing its role in reducing the impact of future wildfires. With climate change contributing to longer and more intense fire seasons, such initiatives are becoming critical components of community resilience planning. The Kelowna Fire Department's proactive stance underscores the importance of balancing ecological health with public safety, ensuring that communities are better prepared for the challenges posed by increasingly unpredictable wildfire patterns.

A multi-year project focusing on the impacts of extreme wildfire and efforts to return prescribed burns to the landscape

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Giant sequoias are built to withstand ordinary fires, but recent extreme wildfires killed thousands of trees that had survived for centuries or even millennia. A new analysis of about 26,400 sequoias found that trees in areas treated with prescribed burns were nearly four times more likely to survive. Researchers estimate the controlled fires prevented about 1,900 deaths and could have saved thousands more if used across every grove.

A study published in Nature Communications reveals that prescribed burns, intentionally set controlled fires, significantly reduce wildfire mortality for giant sequoias. Researchers found that these burns cut tree mortality by 77% compared to areas without intervention, saving an estimated 1,900 trees in the Sierra Nevada region. The collaborative effort between UC Davis, the U.S. Geological Survey, and local parks highlights how strategic fire management can protect these ancient trees from devastating wildfires. The study emphasizes that while wildfires are becoming more intense due to climate change, prescribed burns mitigate damage by clearing flammable materials and promoting ecosystem resilience. This approach not only safeguards sequoia groves but also reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfires that threaten both natural habitats and human communities. The findings underscore the importance of proactive fire management strategies in conservation efforts, offering a balanced solution to combat the growing threat of wildfires in forested areas.

Deciding when and where to conduct prescribed burns is becoming increasingly important as the climate warms, and, according to a recent study, the timing and frequency of appropriate weather will also play a larger role.

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Firefighters continue structure protection and trail prep near the Salmon River Road; community meeting set for July 9 in Orleans.