Image: Michael Motut, used with permission /

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Controlled burns

Controlled burns light up the American skies south of Chilliwack, Columbia Valley

Oct 30, 2024 | 8:54 AM

CHILLIWACK — Controlled burns in the mountains south of Chilliwack and Columbia Valley on the American side of the border have captured the attention of at least a few onlookers this week.

Taryn Dixon, who represents Electoral Area H on the Fraser Valley Regional District board, a catchment that encompasses Columbia Valley and runs south to the U.S. border, advised area residents earlier this week they might observe fires to the south. Dixon posted a note on Facebook courtesy of her her American counterparts.

“Now that weather conditions are favorable we will be conducting controlled burning in the Frost Creek area the next few days,” Dixon said, quoting authorities from Washington state. “This will likely be visible from the Columbia Valley, particularly during evening hours.”

Whatcom County Fire District 14, serving Sumas, Kendall and Welcome south of Chilliwack on the U.S. side, said Tuesday night it had fielded “more than a few” 9-1-1 calls about these prescribed fires on Sumas and Vedder mountains.

“No need for alarm, this is normal for our forests this time of year!” WCFD 14 wrote. “Our friends at Washington State Department of Natural Resources permit these fires this time of year, to burn the slash piles from logging operations. This greatly reduces the wildfire risk in our forests during the summers by reducing the fuel loads.”

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Image: Whatcom County Fire District 14 / A view of the controlled burns looking north from Washington state.

Whatcom Fire thanked area foresters and loggers for their hard working keeping working forests healthy.

Image: Google Maps / The service area of Whatcom County Fire District 14 (Sumas, Welcome, and Kendall), located south of Columbia Valley on the U.S. side. Whatcom Fire advised its residents Tuesday night there would be controlled burns in the Sumas and Vedder mountains.

A picture from Chilliwack-area resident Michael Motut on social media shows flames emanating from a distant mountain across the nighttime beauty of Cultus Lake. Motut granted permission to Fraser Valley Today to use the photo accompanying this story.