HUDSON'S HOPE -- A prescribed burn took place near Hudson’s Hope over the weekend.

Crews were out on Ardrills Ranch, a privately-owned pasture, 18 kilometres east of Hudson’s Hope.

The ministry approved the burn conducted by private contractor Northern Fire WoRx that saw approximately 22 hectares of land blacklined.

The burn is one of several being conducted on pastures across the Peace Region as part of an initiative by the Peace River Forage Association of British Columbia.

“Prescribed fire is a management tool that has the potential to improve the health and functioning of degraded pastures, and to remove hazardous fuel build-up and reduce wildfire risk,” said the association.

Before and after each burn, soil samples will be collected to evaluate how the production and nutrition of forage responds to prescribed fires as part of the ‘Evaluating the Use of Prescribed Fire to Rejuvenate Forage Pastures and its Impact on Soil’ study.  

The next burn will be conducted at the Bear Mountain Community Pasture on April 28th, 2024.