Prescribed burns ordered for Vancouver Island military base land

In this Sept. 11, 2020, file photo, firefighters light a controlled burn along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road to help contain the Dolan Fire near Big Sur, Calif. Crews across the west are lighting controlled burns and taking other steps to prepare for the 2021 fire season that follows the worst one on record. Prescribed burning gets rid of vegetation that can send flames into the forest canopy, where fire can spread easily, and makes the forest more fire resilient. (AP Photo/Nic Coury, File)

Victoria -

People who live in the Metchosin area of Vancouver Island may notice smoke coming from the Rocky Point region beginning Monday.

Starting Monday, the BC Wildfire Service will be conducting controlled burns on up to 25 hectares of land at the Department of National Defence (DND) base at Rocky Point.

The prescribed burns will take place over three to five days between Sept. 20 and mid-October, depending on weather, according to the DND.

The controlled burns act as a form of environmentally friendly land management, the military says.

"Prescribed burns are effective in achieving several land management objectives for DND including mitigating wildfire risks, maintaining open natural landscapes for military training, and protecting and restoring rare Garry Oak ecosystems which support a large number of species at risk," reads a notice posted by Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt on Monday.

"Some smoke will be generated during prescribed burns," the release adds.

B.C. recently lifted a weeks-long state of emergency prompted by wildfires in the province.

The state of emergency lasted from July 20 to Sept. 14.

Cooler and damper weather helped reduce wildfire risks across the province, and also led to a campfire ban being lifted for southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.