B.C. Wildfires: Salvage Rate Urgently Needed

As British Columbia grapples with the aftermath of severe wildfire seasons, attention is turning to the potential recovery of burned timber for lumber products. Ward Stamer, a Conservative MLA, has criticized the province's current wildfire-burned timber salvage rate, deeming it "way too low." He is urging the province to raise the salvage rate to 25 percent and improve access to this damaged timber.

However, the Ministry of Forests considers a 25 percent salvage rate unrealistic due to factors like accessibility and crew safety. Despite these challenges, Stamer argues that the window for harvesting burned timber is critical, as its value diminishes significantly over time. Research indicates that fire-affected wood can remain commercially viable for lumber for about two years before degrading further, making timely salvage operations essential to prevent substantial economic losses.

Mills like Woodco Industries can process suitable salvaged timber for various lumber products, potentially shifting operations away from processing green timber if more burned wood becomes available. The province acknowledges that while burned wood requires more careful handling during processing and debarking, measures are being addressed to mitigate these challenges. Pulp mills have also increased their use of wildfire chips, with usage growing significantly in recent years.

While there's a recognized benefit in redirecting some harvest to burned forests to support future timber supply, concerns remain about the ecological impact. A burned forest still provides crucial functions, including watershed protection and wildlife habitat. Therefore, any salvage efforts must consider the existing landscape disturbance and potential risks like floods and landslides, especially in already heavily logged areas.

The process for obtaining permits to log burned timber is not significantly different from logging green wood, yet salvaged timber often faces delays in reaching the market. To address this, the province updated its timber-pricing rules in 2024 to better reflect the lower value and increased costs associated with salvage operations. New salvage cutting permits are now issued within 25 days. Furthermore, the province is facilitating salvage through agreements with First Nations, with 20 active agreements currently in place across British Columbia.