2025 Prescribed fires
Prince Albert National Park
Fire is a natural part of many ecosystems and plays an important role in the creation of habitat for many plants, animals, and insects. Some ecosystems are fire-adapted – meaning they have evolved with fire. Some of the plant species in these ecosystems require fire for reproduction, growth, and to stay healthy. Fire is a natural process that helps to renew and recycle many types of Canadian ecosystems including the boreal forest and prairie grasslands.
Wildland fire management has been a Parks Canada responsibility since the creation of the first national park in Canada in 1887. At that time, the focus was on the suppression of wildfire to
protect the public and natural resources. Parks Canada recognises the impact of the legacy of fire suppression including the exclusion of Indigenous cultural fire use. We are working to restore the role of fire and of Indigenous fire practitioners on lands administered by Parks Canada.
Parks Canada uses a variety of tools and strategies, including prescribed fires, forest thinning, and the creation of community fire guards, to reduce the impacts of wildfire and protect the public, communities, and infrastructure.
Waskesiu Community Fuel Break
Date: Spring 2025
Size: 40 ha
Location: South of the Waskesiu townsite
Additional details: The Waskesiu Community Fuel Break (CFB) is an area around the townsite of Waskesiu where coniferous trees (trees with needles) and woody debris from the forest floor are removed. The prescribed fire has happened every spring south of the townsite annually to burn off highly flammable dead grass and renew the fuel break before peak wildfire season.
Map : townsite of Waskesiu in Prince Albert National Park with the Waskesiu Community Fuel Break — Text version
This map shows the townsite of Waskesiu in Prince Albert National Park with the Waskesiu Community Fuel Break. The map contains a legend and an inset map of Prince Albert National Park that marks the location of Waskesiu within the park. It also shows the 0 to 1 scale of the map in the bottom left corner. The map has the streets in Waskesiu as well as Highways 263 and 264. The community fuel break surrounds the townsite to the north, east and south with Lake Waskesiu to the west. The prescribed fire boundary is marked in the area south of the Waskesiu townsite.South End Meadows
Date: Spring 2025
Total Size: 900 ha.
Sub-Unit Size: 70 ha.
Location: South-east corner of Prince Albert National Park
Additional details: The South End Meadows prescribed fire contributes to the health of grasslands by returning fire to the landscape. Fire is a natural part of the ecosystem and an essential building block to support grassland health. The prescribed fire this spring will focus on the Paspiwin-Upper Paddock sub-unit to restore 70 hectares of grasslands.
Map : South End Meadows Prescribed Fire — Text version
This map shows the South End Meadows Prescribed Fire in Prince Albert National Park. It contains a legend in the bottom left corner and an inset map of Prince Albert National Park in the top left corner that marks the location of the prescribed fire. It also shows the 0 to 1 scale of the map in the top right corner. It has Cookson Road and Highway 263. The prescribed fire has three sub units – Meridian (west of Highway 263 and north of Cookson Road), East Meadows (east of highway 263) and Paspiwin-Upper Paddock (south of Cookson Road and west of highway 263).For more information, please contact feu-princealbert-fire@pc.gc.ca or call 306-663-4522.
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