Point Pelee set for prescribed burns

LEAMINGTON – Parks Canada plans to conduct prescribed fires at Point Pelee National Park between March 8 and April 15, when conditions are favourable.

This prescribed fire program is an important part of Point Pelee National Park’s Lake Erie Sand Spit Savannah restoration project. Prescribed fires contribute to the restoration of the park’s globally rare savannah ecosystem by releasing nutrients, reducing the number of exotic plants, preventing the spread of invading shrubs and trees, encouraging native seed germination, and improving habitat for species at risk which depend on open, sunny savannah habitat to survive.

Prescribed fires planned for 2021 will be located at the Orientation area near the park entrance (0.04 hectares), the Visitor Centre garden (0.1 hectares), the area north of the Visitor Centre (1.5 hectares), and along the southern portion of the western shoreline (5 hectares).

Point Pelee National Park will remain open to visitors during the prescribed fire period.

However, some areas will be closed for short periods of time to ensure the safety of visitors and staff.

The prescribed fires will only be initiated when the environmental and weather conditions are suitable. Some smoke will be present and visible, and staff will monitor wind conditions to direct smoke away from public areas as much as possible.

For up-to-date information about potential area closures, please check the park’s website at parkscanada.gc.ca/pelee and Facebook page at facebook.com/PointPeleeNP.