HERON BAY – –There is smoke in the air around Thunder Bay. Likely none of it however is from the fire set at Pukaskwa National Park. Parks Canada fire management staff have ignited the Tip Top prescribed fire from the air over a period of three days – September 10, 11 and 12. Fire control is being maintained and there have been no escapes beyond the fire line. Park staff continue to monitor the Tip Top prescribed fire.
The fire is gradually spreading as planned through the understory of the forest in the contained area, and will continue to burn until a significant rainfall occurs. The Tip Top prescribed area covers 1,200 hectares in a spruce-birch forest, approximately 85 kilometres west of Wawa, 65 kilometres southeast of Marathon. To date, fire has been applied to approximately 500 hectares within this area.
The overall objective of this project is to improve the health and structure of Pukaskwa National Park’s boreal forest ecosystem using fire, a natural process essential for maintaining biodiversity in the park.
Planning for prescribed fires takes into consideration all the precautions necessary to contain the fire in the prescribed fire zone. Containing the Tip Top fire within the boundary is being done by a combination of methods including natural barriers and favourable weather conditions. Fire control is being maintained using trained and experienced fire management staff.
For safety reasons the general public is not allowed near the fire area.
