We offer specialized Fall and Burn programs targeting Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB)-infested trees across British Columbia and Alberta. These programs are critical to controlling beetle spread, reducing wildfire risk, and restoring forest health across impacted landscapes. Our crews are certified, experienced, and fully equipped to conduct safe, effective fall and burn operations in coordination with forestry regulators, municipalities, First Nations, and private landowners.
The Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic has devastated millions of hectares of lodgepole and ponderosa pine forests across Western Canada. The consequences include massive stands of standing deadwood, increased fire risk, ecological imbalance, and loss of merchantable timber. Fall & Burn programs remain one of the most effective suppression tools available for localized control and fire hazard reduction.
What is a Fall & Burn Program?
A Fall & Burn Program involves the targeted felling of beetle-infested trees followed by on-site burning of the downed wood to destroy beetle larvae and prevent the insect’s further spread. These treatments are often implemented in high-risk stands, beetle “hot spots,” or near valuable timber, infrastructure, or residential areas.
Key goals include:
- Reducing local MPB populations by eliminating breeding habitat
- Disposing of dead and dying pine to reduce wildfire fuel loads
- Reclaiming infested areas for reforestation or fuel mitigation
- Preventing the spread into green (healthy) pine stands
Our MPB Fall & Burn Services Include:
🌲 Identification of Infested Trees:
Our forestry technicians and danger tree assessors identify red-attack and green-attack beetle trees using aerial imagery, field surveys, and bark inspections.
🌲 Conventional Falling by Certified Fallers:
Experienced hand fallers safely bring down beetle-killed and high-risk standing dead trees — including blowdown and snags — with precision and compliance.
🌲 On-Site Debris Management & Pile Burning:
Burn piles are built and maintained following regional Wildfire Act standards and Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation (OBSCR) guidelines.
🌲 Access Development & Remote Site Setup:
We prepare trails, landing zones, and burn sites in difficult terrain using ATVs, UTVs, and equipment suited to remote environments.
🌲 Post-Burn Reporting & Monitoring:
Detailed GPS mapping, photographic documentation, and burn completion reports are provided for compliance, grant funding, or stewardship purposes.
Who We Work With
Our Fall & Burn programs support a wide range of clients across BC and Alberta, including:
- Community Forests & Woodlot Licensees
- Municipalities & Regional Districts
- First Nations & Indigenous forestry initiatives
- Private landowners & ranchers
- Crown land tenure holders
- BC Wildfire Service & Alberta Wildfire contractors
- Forest licensees managing Forest Health obligations
Service Areas
We operate in MPB-affected zones across:
British Columbia:
- Cariboo Region: Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House
- Interior: Prince George, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James
- Columbia Valley: Golden, Invermere, Cranbrook
- Southern Interior: Merritt, Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton
Alberta:
- Northwestern Alberta: Grande Prairie, Peace River, Fox Creek
- Central Alberta: Edson, Hinton, Whitecourt, Rocky Mountain House
- Foothills Region: Sundre, Blairmore, Nordegg
We provide mobile fall and burn crews ready to respond to MPB management plans, fire mitigation programs, and high-risk stands in remote and high-elevation areas.
Why Choose Wild Timber?
Certified Fallers & Burn Technicians:
Our team includes qualified fallers and burn operators trained in MPB suppression, fire-safe practices, and ecosystem restoration.
WorkSafeBC / OH&S Compliant:
We follow strict safety and environmental protocols during felling, piling, ignition, and mop-up phases.
Experienced in Wildfire Risk Zones:
We integrate beetle suppression with broader wildfire fuel management, making your treatment efforts more cost-effective and impactful.
Regulatory Knowledge:
We comply with Forest Health Management guidelines, FSP (Forest Stewardship Plan) requirements, and FireSmart Canada strategies.
Collaborative Project Delivery:
We work with Indigenous communities, local governments, and consulting foresters to align treatment with land use values, traditional knowledge, and ecosystem goals.
Request a Quote or Consultation
Whether you’re a forest tenure holder, a local government managing a fire interface, or a private landowner concerned about beetle spread, we can help. Wild Timber provides reliable, professional Mountain Pine Beetle Fall and Burn services to help you take control of infested stands before they spread or ignite.