BC successfully tests forest fire suppression by helicopter at night with night vision goggle technology. In related news: California to prevent wildfires sparked by power lines; the US Forest Service considers logging-rule-change to reduce fire risk; and the latest wildfire potential outlook for the Pacific Northwest (above normal) and the US Southeast (below normal).
In other news: softwood lumber leads the rise in residential construction costs; Canada Wood’s latest update on the Chinese market; with federal support, BC is on track to plant 300 million trees; the pros and cons of wood pellets and climate change; heat-treated wood inks North American distribution deal; and a Korean architectural firm adds another first to its wood leading designs.
Finally, genomes and fossils reveal how oaks evolved to rule North America’s forests.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
VANCOUVER
CodeCHEK – a tool for checking conformance to Canadian building codes. CodeCHEK was developed under the Wood WORKS! Program by the Canadian Wood Council, with funding support from Forestry Innovation Investment, to assist designers to determine if and when lightweight wood-frame, heavy timber, mass timber and/or encapsulated mass timber construction can be used, and to determine what are the applicable construction requirements related to fire safety. Access the 
In recent months, due to COVID-19 and required limitations on social gatherings, FII India has not been able to conduct in-person training sessions. To adapt to this new environment… FII India hosted its first webinar on ‘
The U.S. Forest Service is adopting a new rule meant to prevent power lines from sparking wildfires on public lands like California’s deadly, destructive 2018 Camp Fire. The Forest Service’s 
In 2018, the Government of British Columbia released its Clean Energy Plan, promising to create opportunities for all while protecting the province’s clean air, land and water. Remarkably, the plan gives almost no consideration of forest-based bioenergy. Nevertheless, the government did commit to renew the province’s bioenergy strategy, which now – two years later – it is working on. Alarmingly, the government is planning to exclude the use of solid biofuels for heat in B.C. The wood pellet industry is deeply troubled by this. B.C. has developed a significant wood pellet industry that provides 2,500 direct and indirect jobs. The industry has played a critical role in reducing wildfire risk and improving air quality in the province. B.C. exports 99 per cent of its 2.5 million tonnes of wood pellet production to Europe and Asia so other countries can reduce fossil fuel use in building heating and power generation. 
