Effort to rid dry grass could resume soon

Pre-emptive burning of grassy areas at Fort William First Nation could continue later this week if weather permits, provincial officials said Monday. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, which is overseeing the prescribed-burn initiative, said crews burned nearly five hectares on Thursday. The burn program in the community just beside Thunder Bay, now in its seventh year, "focuses on eliminating built-up, dry grass fuels near residential areas on the First Nation, (which is) a seasonal concern each spring." Community residents were notified of last week's burn in a bulletin from the band office.

Carl Clutchey, Local Journalism Initiative reporter, The Chronicle-Journal