Course:CONS200/2025FL1/Controlled Burns in Canada

Ever heard of the saying "fight fire with fire", well that is exactly what they are doing in Canada as a land management tool that reduces wildfire risks while maintaining the healthy ecosystems. In an article done by CBC, Shane Bair who is the director of emergency operations and fire chief for Beaver Lake Cree Nation said that "[Burns] rejuvenate the land, helps get the medicines back, burns off the invasive species of plants and brings back the natural habitat,". Prior to colonization, Indigenous communities had been using this method for years by intentionally, yet carefully setting and managing low-intensity fires under specific weather and safety conditions to clear dry brush while creating new wildlife habitat and promoting growth in certain species. Even with all the positives of controlled burns exist the negatives, one of them being the fact that even well-managed burns release smoke and particulate matter. This side effect which can affect nearby communities, trigger respiratory issues, and reduce visibility is a part of the short tern negatives of controlled burns. Certain species are know as fire-adapted plant species and are able to thrive right after a fire when many species can not do the same. Other species such as the Aspen and White Birch are considered pioneers as they can sprout from stumps and roots of previously burned trees. As wildfires become more prominent due to climate change the "magic method" of controlled burns help replicate the natural fire cycles that many different landscapes depend on.

The Origin of Controlled Burns

Second day of the Cedar Central Prescribed Burn.

The practice of controlled burns dates back thousands of years to Indigenous land stewardship projects. Back then, traditional fire practices were highly knowledgeable, and always rooted in an understanding of local landscapes and seasonal cycles. Originally when colonial governments became a thing, a decision to suppress these methods for much of the 20th century began. Today modern fire management has slowly recognized their value. These powerful controlled burns use this historic Indigenous knowledge, aiming to restore ecological balance, improve forest resilience, and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

Scorched Solutions

Along across Canada, as wildfire season becomes drier and more intense the use of strategic use of controlled burns, also known as prescribed fires is growing. Through prioritizing Indigenous-led fire stewardship, Indigenous communities across Canada are becoming more involved. Provinces like British Columbia have turned to First Nation communities to make sure burns are done in a ecologically beneficial yet, culturally informed way. Both the federal and provincial governments of Canada are becoming more aware of the dangers of wildfire season and have various programs like, Canada’s Wildfire Resilience and Adaptation Fund and Natural Resources Canada’s Canadian Wildfire Strategy set up. These programs and many others help the restoration of burnt landscapes, reduce the amount of highly flammable vegetation and protect important infrastructure near sensitive zones. Alongside these programs, provinces are choosing to invest money in firefighters and local community teams that can carry out successful prescribed burns.

Technology is also advancing alongside these solutions, as satellite imaging, and real-time fire-weather modelling that help professionals choose the best places for controlled burns. Risk- assessment systems can also help to find areas where burns can be done safely.

Public education, such as campaigns are also increasing to improve community understanding of why controlled burns are used and how they contribute to long-term wildfire prevention.

Dangerous Downsides

Even with all the benefits of controlled burns, there is still negatives that exist and have to be managed as they can be dangerous. A major downside that is quite dangerous is risk of escape, which means a fire goes beyond the previously planned boundaries. This can be due to sudden weather changes or miscalculations that are rare but can end in property damage, and wildlife habitat damage. Citizens of an area may see this and lose trust in fire management programs.

Controlled burns can also produce smoke that temporarily causes worsened air quality and health risks. These health risks affect individuals with asthma, respiratory issues, or other vulnerabilities who may live nearby to burn sites. Even those who may not have health risks can be affected by the fires reducing visibility. Additionally, controlled burns can unintentionally harm sensitive species if burns are conducted too frequently or during the wrong season. This has the potential to disrupt nesting periods or damaging ecosystems still recovering from previous fires.

There are also social and cultural downsides, as some communities may resist controlled burning due to concerns about safety, the smell of smoke, or negative past experiences with wildfires. As climate change worsens wildfire season, citizens may already have a negative idea of fires as a whole. This resistance can delay necessary treatments making the process even more complicated. Economically, controlled burns require significant planning, staffing, and equipment, making them cost more for smaller municipalities already limited budgets. Weather-dependent scheduling as out-of-hand fires are not ideal can also lead to cancellations, wasted resources, and narrow burn windows.

There are also legal and liability downsides because land managers may face strict regulations, followed by lengthy permitting processes, and legal responsibility if a burn escapes. These downsides can discourage widespread use of controlled burns despite their ecological benefits.

Conclusion

In the end, the saying “fight fire with fire” does a pretty good job at highlighting the power and complexity of controlled burns in Canada. While this “magic method” continues to draw on generations of Indigenous knowledge, it also stands at the center of modern wildfire management as climate change fuels longer and more destructive fire seasons. Controlled burns help restore natural habitats, reduce fuel buildup, and support the species that rely on the occasional fire to thrive. But the dangerous downsides still exist with everything from smoke impacts to the rare but serious risk of escape. This escape reminds fire crews that fire will always carry an element of unpredictability. As technology advances, government funding increases, and Indigenous-led stewardship comes back into its rightful place in land management, controlled burns can become safer, more effective, and more understood. Moving forward we have to balance the ecological benefits with the short-term negatives to ensure controlled burns are being used properly. Canada’s path is not about choosing between using fire or avoiding it altogether, but learning how to use it responsibly, collaboratively, and with respect for both the land and the communities who depend on it.

Clints Project prescribed burn

References

This conservation resource was created by Course:CONS200.