The Chief of Kamloops Fire Rescue is imploring locals to consider reaching out for help with Fire Smarting their properties, noting limitations on what they’ll be able to do to keep the fuel base in-check this year.

Chief Ken Uzeloc says while KFR and BC Wildfire have identified around 8 areas of the city which would benefit from prescribed burns to clean up some of the fuel, he notes this isn’t likely to happen until the fire season is past its peak this year.

“That work is being planned for the fall because, obviously, it takes time to get that work done and prepare for that. You have to have the right conditions to do that,” cautioned Uzeloc in an interview with Radio NL.

“We’re not going to get that done by spring.”

At the same time, he suggests locals trying to take care of their own properties in the same way are likely going to be out of luck.

“We still get lots of requests for backyard burning,” noted Uzeloc. “We’ve just been so dry, we don’t know if we’re going to be proceeding with any backyard burning at this point.”

As such, Uzeloc is calling on home owners – particularly whose properties butt up against wooded areas – to reach out for FireSmart assistance, noting KFR is working on plans to help with wider-scale fire smarting efforts within communities.

“We’re looking at how can we bring in bins or chippers into communities that will help people be able to dispose of anything that they’re trimming back and cutting back on,” suggested Uzeloc.  “But it really comes down to some of our area… when you have communities that are built right into the forested area, it’s going to be tough [to clean up the fire fuels].”

The City of Kamloops and Kamloops Fire Rescue have been making a concerted push to promote FireSmart activities in the city, with council approving the creation of a stand-alone FireSmart coordinator, a position Uzeloc says is in the process of being finalized.