Grand Forks Gazette, May 23, 2012

Page 1

Grand Forks

Gazette

Your community voice since 1897

$1.10 (includes HST)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2012

VOL 115 NO. 21

❚ Christman a smash page 24 Local aims to make national v-ball team

❚ FIRE PREVENTION

City and province team to prevent fire the city that, “This project is small in scope but it will meet some of the objectives set in the Grand Forks Wildfire Protection Plan and the fundaGrand Forks city council has tentatively ap- mental objectives of fuel management as a wildproved a plan that could see the risk of wildfire fire prevention method.” reduced. According to information provided by the The city was approached by the Ministry of city, WMB crews would provide the operational Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations labour, which would come at no cost to the city (MFLNRO) to help with a fuel management plan as mentioned, and would manage themselves, and according to the proposal, work would con- provide their own equipment and first aid and sist mostly of pruning and thinning of trees and “adhere” to work safe regulations. removing of debris that could serve as fuel for The city would take care of consulting with the fire (ponderosa pine needles etc.) primarily on community, communication, assist with marking city-owned land on 68th Avenue (Parcel Z), be- off the property boundary and disposing of the hind the Extra Foods and adjacent to Angus Mac- debris. Donald Park. Items that would have to be determined beCity council approved the fore the start of the project plan at a special meeting on would include negotiaMay 15 but it is subject to tion of incidental expenssome conditions, as there is es (chainsaw fuel and still some work and discusequipment maintenance), sion to be done before plans the method by which to go ahead, including consuldispose of the debris and tation with the public, particwhile the city would be Wildfire management ularly residents in the Angus responsible for any chipbranch crews have offered to ping and debris removal, MacDonald Park area. While the work would be help the City of Grand Forks WMB crews could assist provided free of charge by with chipping. meet some of its fuels local Wildlife Management Burch said disposal management objectives Branch (WMB) crews, the of waste would be detercity may have to incur some mined in the near future costs. with Hal Wright, city op“At this point in time, erations manager. that’s subject to my discussion with (city) staff WMB crews would create a buffer zone of and we will have to do it within the existing 10 metres of untreated fuels adjacent to private budget,” city Chief Administrative Officer Lynne property to allow for privacy and aesthetics Burch explained when asked how much the city with no tree falling taking place within two tree would contribute. She said that money would lengths of any private property line, structure or have to come out of the city’s operations fund. power line. “The proposal is basically a partnership beWhile the work ideally would be done between the province and the City of Grand Forks tween March and September of 2012, crews and the province is looking to act on its fuel man- would be primarily responsible to take care of agement plan that it has provincially and it has wildfire activity and if work from wildfires or offered to conduct some fuel management activi- other circumstances prevented the work from beties on city property,” Burch said. ing completed this year, it would resume during The MFLNRO wrote the city stating that it the 2013 term. had a fire base located in Grand Forks and while “Wildfire management branch crews have ofthe initial attack crew stationed there from March fered to help the City of Grand Forks meet some to September had the primary responsibility to of its fuels management objectives,” Southeast respond to wildfires, there could be times when Fire Centre Information Officer Karlie Shaugit could help with fire hazard reduction and for- nessy told the Grand Forks Gazette. est fuel management. “It could occur anytime in the next few weeks James Katasonoff, forest protection techni- to a few months down the road,” she said. “It decian for the Boundary Fire Zone, was away and pends when our crews are available. It’s to limit could not comment, but did say in the letter to the risk of wildfire to the city.”

KARL YU

Gazette Editor

It’s that time of year again! ➤

From left: Poison Ivy (Jenna Mullen), Black Cat (Melina Koh) and the Riddler (Dante Grootjes) prepare for battle against the superheroes in Shazam!, which presented by the 11th Street Kids Theatre on May 17 at the Grand Forks Secondary School Auditorium. For more, see page 19. CASSANDRA CHIN PHOTO

Fundraising for the Cancer Relay for Life Grand Forks Credit Union Employees have lots planned

Garage Sale Sat, May 26 GFCU parking lot

Riddle me this, riddle me that!

Bottle Drive Sat, May 26 ➤ Book Sale daily

Penny Drive until end of June

Grand Forks Credit Union www.gfdscu.com • 250-442-5511 • Tues to Fri 9am-5pm & Sat 9am-1pm

Second Class Registration # 0034


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.