Fire Management in Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves

This page provides access to documents related to fire management in provincial parks and conservation reserves. Listed below are the documents that are now available.

Fire Management Policy for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves

The goal of the policy is to advance the management of fire to restore and maintain the ecological health and integrity of Ontario’s natural heritage represented in provincial parks and conservation reserves. The objectives of the policy are to:

• Promote fire management planning for provincial parks and conservation reserves
• Ensure the role of fire is considered and documented in the management direction for provincial parks and conservation reserves
• Ensure clear objectives for fire use and fire response are developed to prevent personal injury, value loss, and social disruption associated with fires, and to meet ecological and resource stewardship objective

The policy complements the Forest Fire Management Strategy for Ontario. Information on the strategy and MNR’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services program is available at:

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/AFFM/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_165402.html

Guideline for Fire Management Planning in Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves

The purpose of this guideline is to assist MNR staff in fire management planning for protected areas. Fire management planning is a process for identifying the actions needed to restore the natural role of fire in protected areas while ensuring the protection of life, property and values from the adverse effects of fire. This guideline assists with assessing the type of fire management that is appropriate for a protected area and outlines the planning requirements to implement it. The guideline should be used to prepare a fire response or fire management plan for a provincial park or conservation reserve, as well as during preparation of protected area management direction and 10-year examinations. The guideline supports implementation of the Fire Management Policy for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves

Natural Fire Regimes in Ontario

This report provides a summary of how ecosystems interacted with fire in the past, under a minimum of human influence, and how fire processes can be used as a tool to help restore ecological integrity to protected area landscapes. It has been prepared as part of a tool kit supporting fire management planning for provincial parks and conservation reserves.

Last Modified: November 25, 2011
Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2011