BANFF – With a perfect window for burning over the weekend, Parks Canada lit a prescribed fire in the backcountry of Banff National Park in a bid to restore native meadows for wildlife.
In all, 65 hectares of a planned 500-ha prescribed fire were burned Saturday and Sunday (May 10-11) at Wigmore Meadows south of Windy Warden Cabin before rain set in Sunday evening and into Monday.
Parks Canada officials say the prescribed burn aims to restore native meadow habitat, which provides critical, year-round habitat for mountain sheep, goats, grizzly bears, wolves, elk, and bison.
“This prescribed fire unit will work to restore native meadow habitat in Banff National Park and continues to return fire to the landscape, benefiting both the environment and nearby communities by reducing the risk of wildfire,” according to a Parks Canada statement.
After fire crews completed a successful test ignition on Saturday afternoon under favourable fire and weather conditions, Parks Canada officials say the main prescribed fire was lit using aerial ignition from a helicopter.
“Parks Canada fire crews completed a 52.5 ha section of Wigmore Meadows,” according to Parks Canada.
“Favourable conditions continued, and burning resumed on Sunday. Fire specialists were able to treat an additional 13 ha. Bringing the weekend total to 65.5 ha.”
Fire crews will continue to closely monitor the area, which may continue to smoulder for the coming days.
The area closure will remain in effect until further notice while cleanup operations continue.
Since 2002, Parks Canada’s fire management team in Banff National Park has treated almost 15,000 ha through 73 projects. An additional 1,629 ha are in planning.
Parks Canada began reintroducing fire to the landscape in 1983, through prescribed fire and by moving away from suppressing all wildfires.
As the climate changes, fire seasons are predicted to become longer and wildfires may become larger and burn more severely.
Other prescribed fires on the books for Banff National Park include Flint’s Park Meadows, a 262-ha burn in the Cascade Valley west of Flint’s Park Cabin, and a 200-ha burn in the Upper Red Deer Meadows between Scotch Camp and Sandhills Cabins.
In addition, there is a 4,469-ha prescribed fire that has bene on the books for a few years on the Fairholme Bench between the park’s east gate, the Johnson Lake area and the Trans-Canada Highway.
Previously burned in 2003, the Fairholme II prescribed fire aims to improve habitat for wildlife like grizzly bears and to reduce the risk of wildfire to local communities, including Harvie Heights and Canmore.
“A re-burn of the site is required to reduce lodgepole pine regrowth, restore montane grasslands, and open forests that historically occupied this area,” states Parks Canada’s website.
