Controlled burns ignited amid spring conditions

The spring season has brought with it controlled burns in Westman — including on private properties, military grounds and national parks.

Controlled fires were started this week at CFB Shilo and Riding Mountain National Park, and several requests have come in for controlled burns in rural municipalities bordering Brandon.

At CFB Shilo, a prescribed fire on Tuesday afternoon raised smoke that was visible from Brandon and prompted base firefighters to call in support from the Oakland-Wawanesa Fire Department.

The fire had jumped a “wet line” and began to burn outside of the planned area, but was brought under control a short time later with the help of the OWFD, CFB Shilo public affairs officer Lori Truscott told the Sun in an email.

“Smoke did affect the built-up area of CFB Shilo for a few hours, but there was no danger to the public or personnel,” Truscott said. “Ironically, the (extra) area burned was planned for a controlled burn at a later date.”

The base conducted the burn to remove dry grass and plants that can fuel bigger fires, such as those started by summer lightning strikes, Truscott said. The spring burns are a safety precaution and run from approximately mid-April to mid-May depending on weather.

Truscott said the base partners with other fire departments so that controlled fires are always managed safely.

“We are always prepared for situations where the prescribed burn extends beyond the planned activity and work closely with all fire departments to ensure a quick and safe response.”

At Riding Mountain National Park, Parks Canada on Tuesday said it started a controlled fire that is planned to affect 4,000 hectares in the Jackfish Creek area and 2,700 hectares in the Seech Hopper area around Lake Audy.

Fire is a natural ecological process that is important for ecosystems in shaping and maintaining healthy landscapes, Parks Canada said in an online bulletin about the fire. The process is being used to limit the spread of aspen and shrubs, to remove white spruce encroaching into grassland areas, and to rejuvenate aging forest stands.

The controlled fire also serves to reduce the risk of high-intensity wildfire taking place and aims to improve the forage for bison, elk, deer, and other grazing wildlife.

“Smoke and flames may be visible from a long distance, and smoke may drift to areas adjacent to the park,” Parks Canada said. “Neighbouring residents and property owners may experience some smoky conditions due to smoke travelling outside of the prescribed fire area.”

Prescribed fire activities are planned to take place intermittitently through the end of May, a Parks Canada spokesperson told the Sun in an email on Friday. Timing and progress will depend on weather conditions, they added.

The park will remain open to visitors during the fire, but some areas will be closed for short periods.

Closures could be enacted in the areas of the bison enclosure and facilities, Lake Audy Road, Lake Audy Dam Road, Strathclair Trail and several backcountry sites.

Last year, the agency targeted 1,400 hectares in the Menzies and Baldy Lake areas, and completed that burn in early June.

Approximately five burn permits have been issued so far in April in the Rural Municipality of Elton, which borders the City of Brandon to the north, according to CAO Shawna LeBlanc.

The RM of Cornwallis — bordering Brandon to the east, west and south — has received eight requests for controlled burns this spring, chief administrative officer Teri Scaife told the Sun in an email. There have been two at CFB Shilo, she added.

The City of Brandon is not planning any controlled burns this spring, communications officer Merrilea Metcalf told the Sun in an email.

» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com