A controlled burn is going to be happening within city limits in the next few days.
Fire Chief Dale Feser said it would be dependent on the weather conditions, including the moisture condition of the vegetation and the wind speed and direction.
“We’re going to try to do it in small chunks here, so that way it’s not going to be able to overcome the suppression capabilities of the fire department, and have a runaway fire on us. So what we’re looking at is just over the next week here is just to pick small areas and try to do property burns and back burns right around the property perimeter ridge, so that way it doesn’t affect the owners’ properties that are right on the valley.”
The purpose is to take care of the dense overgrowth vegetation in the valley. If there’s an accidental fire, it could quickly overcome suppression resources.
It is scheduled to happen between May 10 and 17, in the area of Chinook Bay, King Street and 14th Avenue.
Feser said some work could take as early as May 10, with the perimeter burns.
If they get a co-operative day for weather, it could be completed in eight hours. If not, it could take four days in smaller chunks.
Mayor Roy Ludwig said this hasn’t happened for a number of years, and the overgrowth is starting to take over.
“People are starting to put garbage in there, and it’s very unslightly,” said Ludwig.
