Hearing chainsaws and brushsaws lately? That’s the sound that the Kaslo Interface project is underway. A crew of five workers is now working to reduce the fuel buildup in the public and Crown lands in Kaslo’s forest interface.

In the Blackwell report, Community Wildfire Protection Planning, which was commissioned by the RDCK in 2006, the fire danger in the Village of Kaslo forest interface was rated as high to extreme. With global climate change and the pine beetle pandemic affecting much of BC, fire fighting equipment and personnel could potentially be stretched very thinly during spells of hot and dry weather. Should we be threatened by wildfire here in Kaslo, we may be left to fend for ourselves. This is why it is so important to act locally to prevent forest fires and to take measures that will help prepare us to fight a wildfire close to our homes.

Reducing fuel loading (dead trees and branches) involves a lot of chain and brushsaw work within the fuel treatment areas. As part of the project, trails are being built to provide access for fire fighting equipment and personnel. These trails will contribute to our inventory of recreational trails.

At a time when employment in the forest sector is scarce, the Kaslo Fire Interface project is creating good paying jobs for former forest/mill workers. The $192,500 project is entirely funded by the Federal Community Development Trust – Job Opportunities Program until March 2008. Matching funding which would extend that deadline is available through the Union of BC Municipalities. The project’s future now depends on the continued involvement of all levels of government and a commitment from the Village of Kaslo to support Fire Smart principles.