Hundreds of Trees Cut Down in Banff to Fight Wildfire Danger
The town of Banff has removed several hundred trees to reduce the risk of devastating wildfires, with both public and private land getting FireSmart treatments.
Town officials have cut down 329 trees from public land around important buildings and infrastructure in 28 different locations. These include Town Hall, the Banff Child Care Centre, and the wastewater treatment plant. At the same time, residents have received 300 permits to remove coniferous trees from private property.
Good news
“We have good news. Phase 1 of the Town FireSmart vegetation management is virtually complete. … We have removed 329 trees around critical infrastructure”, said Paul Godfrey, director of operations for the Town of Banff, as Rocky Mountain Outlook writes.
“I want to continue to encourage folks to stay as informed and as ready as possible in the event of a worst-case scenario,” said Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno.
Wildfire remains the top hazard in the Bow Valley area. Residents are on high alert after recent record-breaking fire seasons in Canada and the devastating wildfire that destroyed one-third of Jasper’s buildings last summer.
Forest thinning
Banff council has directed almost $1.4 million for FireSmarting this year. This includes forest thinning on the town’s edges and removing trees and flammable vegetation around municipal buildings, parks, and critical infrastructure. The town is also offering rebates for rooftop sprinklers, roof replacements, and tree removal to help residents FireSmart their properties.
Cliff White, a former head of Parks Canada’s national prescribed fire program, is proposing “community forest zones” around towns like Banff and Canmore. This would allow towns to manage fire risk 5-10 km from their boundaries by hiring foresters and fire specialists.
