Forestry and Parks - Request for Proposal - Drystone FireSmart Maintenance

Project Background In 2006, a mulching operation was conducted to create a fuel free guard adjacent to the Folding Mountain community. Subsequent routine inspections have identified that the fireguard requires maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in protecting the community from the risk of wildfire. The town of Hinton and its neighboring communities were identified to be at a high risk of being impacted by wildfire in the 2019 Edson Wildfire Management Plan. This project aims to enhance the communities in the Hwy 16 west corridors resilience in the face of growing wildfire threats, reinforcing fire protection measures to safeguard the area. Project Objectives a) Upon removal of the fuel, the area will function as a sprinkler line, containment line, or access route for firefighting crews and equipment. The well-defined boundaries of this project will also facilitate more efficient and manageable maintenance, including prescribed burns moving forward. b) The Edson Forest area has designated 17 hectares for treatment through the mulching of woody debris. The project will require the use of appropriate heavy equipment to effectively remove all fuel within the defined boundaries. Species that are to be mulched include grasses, willow, and alder and spruce (see photos attached). Due to soil conditions, the reclamation work must be done when the ground conditions are in a frozen state.