HERON BAY – Pukaskwa National Park of Canada continues ignition operations at the Tip Top prescribed fire site. Conditions are currently optimal for an August 15th aerial ignition.
The prescribed fire operation was initiated on May 18, using a helicopter equipped with an aerial ignition device. During that day, the fire spread gradually through the understory of the forest, covering an estimated 75 hectares. Shortly afterward, there was significant rainfall and, as a result, the operation had been temporarily suspended.
The plan is to continue burning targeted sections of this site from August 15th into the autumn, but only under optimal weather and safety conditions. Experienced fire technicians are monitoring the weather and the site carefully. Pukaskwa has four weather stations, one located near Tip Top Mountain.
The Tip Top prescribed fire site covers 1,200 hectares in a birch mixedwood forest, and it represents less than half a percent of the total area of Pukaskwa. The area is remote and represents minimal risk to park visitors, including those hiking the coastal hiking trail. It is located in the central interior of the park, approximately 40 kilometres southeast of the administration building and 8 kilometres from Lake Superior. From a regional perspective, it is situated approximately 85 km west of Wawa and 65 km southeast of Marathon.
The park’s vegetation management goal is to treat 65% (780 hectares) of the fire site area. To date, approximately 25% (300 hectares) has been successfully burned.
The overall objective of this project is to improve the health and structure of Pukaskwa National Park’s boreal forest ecosystem. The park uses fire as one way to naturally maintain healthy forests and biodiversity.
For safety reasons the general public is not allowed near the immediate burn site area.