Nelson's fire department is planning to conduct wildfire training using a small prescribed burn near Svoboda Road this month.
Nelson Fire and Rescue announced Oct. 3 that it would participate in a joint training exercise with the BC Wildfire Service and Regional District of Central Kootenay. The burn area will be 0.7 hectares in size above the Svoboda Road parking lot on either Oct. 9 or 16, depending on whether conditions.
“This exercise is crucial for strengthening our collective response to wildfires," said Chief Jeff Hebert in a statement. "By training alongside the RDCK and BCWS, we gain valuable insights into each other's systems, allowing us to respond more effectively as a team when it matters most.”
Smoke will be visible during the day of the burn. The public will still have access through Svoboda Road and to the parking lot next to the rail trail, but some bike trails may be closed during the exercises.