fuel treatment operations 2025

A What-to-know page for the Bulmer’s Pointe crew

Project Overview:

Bulmer's Pointe is a 32.5-hectare, low-impact community located on the east shore of Kootenay Lake. This project is an operational Fuel Treatment conducting thin-from-below with disposal by concurrent burning.

By removing select wildfire fuels such as dead trees, windthrow, and smaller bushy conifers, we will reduce horizontal and vertical continuity in the forest, reducing wildfire potential in the area significantly.
Thin-from-below technique prioritizes retention of mature trees and longer-lived species, removing undergrowth and deadfall that has created an unnaturally loaded forest.
Hot-fed concurrent burning technique disposes of material as we go, leaving a completed product. This technique also alleviates atmospheric venting concerns by eliminating smoke. Last, it creates fewer total # of piles, and therefore protects the natural ecology of the site.

Removal of approx. 90% of coniferous stems smaller than 12.5cm diameter at breast height.

Removal of approx. 50% of coniferous stems 12.5 - 17.5cm diameter at breast height.

Prioritize retention of Western redcedar, Douglas-fir, Western Larch and White Pine
Prioritize removal of Lodgepole Pine, Western Hemlock, Grand Fir
Retain all stems greater than 17.5 cm diameter at breast height
Retain all deciduous trees.
Retain high value wildlife trees

Summary:

Efforts are restorative in nature, and work to replicate healthy forest spacing.
Ground debris clean-up is limited to wildfire fuels; nurse logs and coarse woody debris will be retained.
Client can expect a well-spaced forest, highlighting veteran trees and wildlife trees, and with a significant component of wildfire resistant trees such as deciduous stems and leafy undergrowth.
All danger trees will be removed.