Prescribed burn planned at FWR Dickson Wilderness Area

A prescribed burn is scheduled to take place at the FWR Dickson Wilderness Area on Spragues Road between April 30 – May 2. The exact date is not known, since the burn must take place when weather conditions allow. There must be several days of dry weather in advance of the burn, and there must be little to no wind on the burn day.

About 3.2 hectares will be burned. The burn will be conducted by the Prescribed Burn Unit from Lands & Forests Consulting. The company strictly follows the intensive Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry guidelines for prescribed burning to ensure safety and effectiveness. Natural and constructed firebreaks will be used to protect adjacent properties and contain the burn within GRCA land. The site will be closed to the public and signs will be posted to notify the public of the burn. Fire and smoke will be visible for up to four hours and will be easily seen from the surrounding area.

Township of North Dumfries municipal government, nearby property owners, fire departments, and police service have been notified. The fire departments will be notified of the exact time of the prescribed burn, when it is known.

The goal of the prescribed burn is to reduce native woody plants and non-native grasses, so that the proportion of native prairie grasses will increase. Fire is a normal part of the life cycle of prairie and savanna habitats. Native species can tolerate fire, so burning the land clears out non-native species. Fire also releases important nutrients into the soil, which promotes growth and increases seed yields.

At one time, about 25 per cent of the Grand River watershed was tallgrass prairie. Today, only one percent remains.

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Note to editors: If you would like to send a reporter or photographer to cover the burn, please contact us to make arrangements in advance.

Media Contacts: 

Cam Linwood, GRCA Communications Coordinator
Phone 519-621-2763 x2251  |  Email clinwood@grandriver.ca

Lisa Stocco, GRCA Manager of Communications
Phone 519-621-2763 x2316  |  Email lstocco@grandriver.ca