There will be prescribed fires today at Wanuskewin and St. Denis National Wildlife Area.

This week the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange, in partnership with Meewasin and other partner groups, is hosting Canada’s first Prescribed Fire Training Exchange.

Two successful prescribed fires took place on Tuesday at Beaver Creek Conservation area. the burn bosses that were present included Nature Conservancy of Canada and Canada Wildlife Service, and Environment and Climate Change Canada. The ecological goals of these burns are to reactivate sand dunes, reduce litter and fuel load, and protect habitat.

There are many precautions taken to ensure a completely safe burn including ideal weather conditions, fire guards, trained professionals and significant water supply on-site. The area for today’s prescribed burns will be closed to the ublic with personnel on-site including the Saskatoon Fire Department.

MVA says planning a prescribed fire can take months, and sometimes years, and includes taking into account the temperature, humidity, vegetation (fuel) moisture, wind speed and direction that will ensure a safe and effective fire.