Muskrat Creek wildfire: Backgrounder
What is the role of fire in the RMNP ecosystem?
The Fire Crew gets an early start on a controlled burn. Prescribed fires have been used as a management tool in RMNP for over 20 years. They are vital in reducing heavy fuel loads and enhancing biodiversity. © Parks Canada
Fire is the most important natural agent of renewal for both forest and grassland within Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP). With the changes that have occurred on the regional landscape in the last century, natural fire does not come into the Park as frequently as it once did. Fire within RMNP has been actively and effectively suppressed since the 1940’s. As a result, park managers are concerned that the average age of the forest within RMNP has become too old, with an increasingly heavy fuel build up. Prescribed fires have been used as a management tool in RMNP for over 20 years.
Fires in RMNP improve wildlife habitat, improve the quality of native grassland, create a more diverse mix of forest ages, and reduce fuel loads, thereby reducing the risk of a fire causing damage to structures.
What are prescribed burns?
A: Prescribed burns are an important tool used by Parks Canada to help reduce the risk of wildfire by reducing heavy fuel loads from overgrown vegetation, and to enhance biodiversity in our national parks. Fire management specialists weigh the risks of carrying out a prescribed burn versus the risk of doing nothing. Fire will happen whether we light it or not. By igniting fire under chosen conditions, we can more easily manage the results. Overall, public safety is always Parks Canada’s first concern.
The purpose of the McFadden Valley prescribed burn (later the Muskrat Creek fire) was to restore grassland quality and reduce forest encroachment in the small grassland area.
Why does Parks Canada have a prescribed burn program?
A: Once common across the parklands, fescue grasslands now occupy little of their historic range; the absence of wildfire has allowed aspen and woody shrubs to encroach into natural fescue meadows. In some areas of RMNP, like the fescue prairies, tree ring records show that fires would have burned as often as every three to five years. In the 1930s and 1940s, however, park managers implemented a fire suppression policy which aimed to eliminate this important natural process from our landscape. We now understand fire to be a natural part of the ecosystem. It is important for renewing forests and grasslands, helping maintain or restore ecosystems which provide quality wildlife habitat and promoting younger, healthier forests. Parks Canada now works to restore this natural process to historically fire adapted forests and grasslands across the country.
When does Parks Canada carry out prescribed fires?
A: Many years of planning go into a prescribed fire. Fire management specialists use a multifaceted formula that takes into account the type, amount, and moisture content of the vegetation, the topography, natural or constructed fireguards in the burn area, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and weather to determine the optimum time to burn. Generally, conditions need to be dry in order to successfully burn.
Why did Parks Canada decide to burn this fall?
A: This fall’s weather provided RMNP with favourable conditions for an effective burn in the Muskrat Creek area. All preset conditions in the prescription for this burn and its objectives were met. The Muskrat Creek fire was set on September 23, 2011 and monitored daily, with no activity at the site until October 5, 2011, the morning the fire made its run. However, record breaking high temperatures and continued drought conditions in early October combined with high winds caused the remnants of the Muskrat Creek prescribed burn to jump the creek and exceed the original burn unit. This was highly unusual weather for this time of year.
What is Parks Canada doing in response to the Muskrat Creek wildfire?
The Muskrat Creek Fire covers almost 2000 hectares of RMNP’s 300,000 hectares. At this time, the fire poses no threat to people or property. © Parks Canada
Cooler weather and rainfall have halted the spread of the Muskrat Creek wildfire in RMNP. The fire is still burning in the ground and roots. Fire management staff will continue to monitor the nearly 30 km of fire perimeter and take action where necessary to prevent further spread towards values at risk. This action will take place until significant rainfall occurs or winter arrives. The fire may flare up in the days and weeks ahead with no rain. Smoke may be visible from a number of locations.
At this time, the fire poses no threat to people or property. An evacuation alert that had been issued by the Rural Municipality of Clanwilliam, and the Erickson and District Fire Department, in consultation with Parks Canada, was lifted by October 11, 2011. Fortunately, at no time were any residents required to leave their homes.
Parks Canada would like to thank local residents, municipal officials and fire departments for their cooperation and assistance.
The fire ban that had been put in place throughout the park has also been lifted. Highway 19 and the Rolling River Road have re-opened; however, caution is advised as there may be smoke along these routes. The roads may be closed again on short notice if the fire flares up. The South Escarpment Trail will remain closed. Please call the RMNP information line for updates at 204-848-7275.
The fire area covers almost 2000 hectares of RMNP’s 300,000 hectares and stretches 14 km from north to south.
For more information, please contact:
Scot Shellborn
Communications Officer
Riding Mountain National Park
Cell: 204-210-0213