Wildfire Risk Reduction Plan

The BLT Wildfire Risk Reduction Plan (short for Lhoosk’uz, Tibbles, and Blackwater) was one of Cabin’s largest tactical wildfire planning contracts and served as a critical stepping stone ahead of the 100 Mile project. Our client was the Ministry of Forests, and this project spanned a 52,000-hectare area, stretching from the community of Quesnel to the Blackwater–Batnuni area.

The project name “BLT” emerged from a need to easily communicate the project internally (and a shared appreciation for a good sandwich), but the work was anything but light.

This region includes three distinct community zones:

• Lhoosk’uz Dene Nation, a remote Indigenous community already impacted by wildfire in 2017,
• Tibbles, a recreation-based community,
• And the Blackwater corridor, layered with ecological and cultural constraints.
  

Project Scope and Approach

The objective of the project was to deliver a Wildfire Risk Reduction Plan that could support the eventual development of Fuel Management Prescriptions (FMPs) and mitigation treatments in an area with limited egress, complex jurisdictional overlays, and significant cultural and ecological values.

We invited our pals from Chartwell Resource Group along for some company cross-training and capacity building, and we kicked off the project in September 2024. The full risk analysis was conducted by Cabin’s geospatial team, followed by the creation of a sampling plan to mobilize the crews for fieldwork, which saw folks head out on a 10-day shift that included all three regional zones.

Chartwell tailored their in-house LandPlanner platform to the tactical planning field collection requirements, which supports cloud-based data collection and mapping, and proved a valuable trial run for future field data workflows! We were able to bring along two Chartwell folks to join us on the field shift, where the real cross-training happened (along with some other drone and accommodation shenanigans)!

Landscape Constraints and Key Considerations

The BLT project was a standout not only for its size but also for its planning complexity, as the area intersects the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan (CCLUP) and requires integration of:

• Ungulate winter range and wildlife habitat constraints
• Archaeological and heritage sites
• Designated woodlots and park areas
• Isolated structures and recreational use zones

This level of planning required close coordination with government representatives, GIS validation, and an in-depth understanding of both strategic and site-level values. With the area’s history of significant fire loss, particularly affecting Lhoosk’uz’s traditional use areas, the work also felt more significant. Egress planning was a central priority, given the remote nature of the communities and the limited access routes across the Area of Interest (AOI).

Results and Next Steps

The BLT tactical plan was completed on time in March 2025, despite the scale and complexity of the project. The final report is now with the Quesnel Natural Resource District for review, and we’re hopeful it will support further planning efforts and prescription development as part of the province’s long-term wildfire mitigation strategy.

This project marked an important moment for Cabin. It was one of the first large-scale tactical plans we delivered under the WUIWRRP development guidance, and it solidified our integrated approach, bringing together wildfire planning, geospatial expertise, and meaningful partnerships with both Indigenous communities and industry collaborators. We’re proud of the work done and of the impact it may have for these remote communities, in maintaining First Nations’ traditional territory use and providing safe egress options in the event of wildfire.