Pukaskwa National Park of Canada

North Swallow Prescribed Burn

From September- October 2002, Pukaskwa National Park conducted the North Swallow prescribed burn. The burn covered 25 hectares in a spruce-birch forest, approximately 100 kilometres northwest of Wawa, 55 kilometres southeast of Marathon, Ontario. The North Swallow burn was one block within a 900 hectare area identified for prescribed burning within the next two-three years. Parks Canada was the lead agency for this burn, assisted by staff from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Pic River First Nation.

The main purpose of the burn was to encourage the regeneration of black spruce and white birch, in two phases. The first phase was to produce a low intensity surface fire on site. The second phase was to monitor the fires spread and behaviour on subsequent post-ignition days.

A test fire for the North Swallow Prescribed Burn
©Parks Canada / PNP collection / S. Verdiel, 31-08-2002

The fire was aerially ignited on September 1, and spread gradually through the understory of a portion of the site. Later that afternoon the prescribed burn area received 5mm of precipitation which reduced the fire behaviour and spread potential, however, there were several smokes on site the next day. On September 4th the site received 40 mm rainfall, and as a result, there were only two smokes reported on September 5th. By September 8th the site showed no signs of smoke and further monitoring revealed no carry-overs from ignition day. The burn area was officially called out October 20th with the first snowfall of the season.

The objective of the first phase of the burn, to apply a low intensity surface fire to the site, was met. However, because of significant rainfall, the objectives for the second phase were not realized. Park staff were unable to monitor the fire spread and behaviour on subsequent days, as was planned. The success of the long-term objectives (black spruce and white birch regeneration) in areas burned continues to be monitored.

Overall, the prescribed burn was a success as this exercise allowed park staff and partners to work together and conduct a safe prescribed burn operation. The experience gained from this exercise will contribute to future prescribed burn planning and operations, and enhance the park's capability to allow lightning-ignited fires to move naturally across some of the park landscape.