Training Exchange Focuses on Prescribed Fire Practices in Canada

A unique training exchange aimed at enhancing prescribed fire practices is currently taking place in British Columbia. Co-hosted by ʔaq̓am, a community of the Ktunaxa Nation, and the BC Wildfire Service, the Kootenay ʔa·kinq̓uku TREX (Training Exchange) has gathered over 40 participants from 14 different organizations. These include various provincial government agencies, municipal fire departments, researchers, and Ktunaxa Nation member communities.

The event, now in its second year, aims to facilitate knowledge sharing and best practices for using fire on the landscape. According to Sarah Budd, Communications and Engagement Lead for Cultural and Prescribed Fire at the BC Wildfire Service, the diverse range of participants contributes significantly to the exchange of expertise and perspectives. “It’s a training exchange; it’s all about that knowledge exchange among the participants,” Budd stated.

This year’s exchange builds on the success of last year’s pilot program, which focused on Indigenous knowledge-sharing about local history, language, and culture. Participants also engaged in classroom sessions about fire weather and behavior, preparing them for hands-on fieldwork. The inaugural TREX was noteworthy for being the first of its kind in British Columbia, hosted by ʔaq̓am, with favorable weather conditions for practical burn exercises.

Cultural burning has long been a traditional practice of land stewardship for the Ktunaxa Nation. Cheryl Casimer, Nasuʔkin (Chief) of ʔaq̓am, highlighted that co-hosting the event aligns with ongoing reconciliation efforts with the land, particularly through the use of fire. “It is our goal to return our lands to a state where the use of cultural burning can be restored,” Casimer explained.

The current TREX program includes practical prescribed burn experiences at two sites in the Wycliffe and Bull River areas. The Bull River site, approximately seven hectares in the Red Barn Conservation Area, was chosen by the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship with aims of ecological restoration and wildfire risk reduction. The prescribed fire not only seeks to enhance ecosystem health but also serves as a training opportunity for participants.

Justin Penney, Land and Resource Coordinator with the BC Wildfire Service, emphasized the importance of a detailed burn plan that outlines treatment objectives. “We’re very cognizant of what they want to achieve here, and that’s going to be in the prescription and the burn plan,” Penney said. The burn plan provides parameters for fire intensity necessary to meet the defined objectives.

On September 18, 2023, activities commenced at the Bull River site with a safety briefing, reinforcing communication protocols and command structure. Crews prepared the treatment area, wetting the perimeter to contain the fire within prescribed boundaries. Before the full burn commenced, a controlled test fire was conducted to evaluate real-time fire behavior and confirm alignment with the established burn plan.

The hands-on experience gained by participants at the TREX sites is expected to extend beyond the event. “We’re hoping to build off people’s interest and passion,” stated Penney. “They’ll return to their agencies promoting the use of fire in the right ways and situations.”

Will Kaufman, Manager of Forestry Stewardship at the ʔaq̓am Lands Department, praised the collaborative nature of the exchange. He noted that bringing together diverse perspectives fosters valuable discussions about fire management, ecology, and community interactions.

As the Kootenay ʔa·kinq̓uku TREX demonstrates, the integration of traditional practices with modern fire management strategies holds promise for enhancing land stewardship and ecological health in the region. The ongoing commitment to knowledge-sharing and collaboration underscores the importance of cultural practices in contemporary environmental management.