Prescribed burns planned for Blue Grouse Basin

Parks Canada press release

If defined conditions remain suitable, park staff will conduct a high elevation prescribed burn in Blue Grouse Basin (Waterton Lakes National Park) this Thursday, Sept. 19 of approximately 3 ha. in size.

The purpose of the fire is to create conditions for restoration of endangered whitebark pines. This fire will consist of several small fires, which will mimic low intensity lightning strikes. Due to the remote location and small size of the fires, there will be no smoke effects on neighbouring communities. Burning will be completed by the afternoon of Friday, September 20.


There has been a significant reduction in local whitebark pine populations due to a combination of:

• an infestation of non-native white pine blister rust 
• mountain pine beetle attacks 
• a lack of conditions created by fire which are important for whitebark pine regeneration. 

Whitebark pine benefits from wildfire in two major ways. One, its thicker bark, thinner crowns and deeper roots withstand fire better than its competitors. Two, Clark's nutcrackers are attracted to burned areas to cache whitebark seeds, and these birds are the major seed dispersers for whitebark pine.  

WLNP’s objective is to selectively burn defined plots to remove competing trees such as Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir. These burns will avoid the seed-producing whitebark pines in each plot.

Parks Canada uses prescribed fire to:

• provide fire protection and reduce the hazard of wildfires escaping out of the park; 
• sustain fire-dependent ecosystems; 
• revitalize grasslands; 
• increase habitat diversity for wildlife. 

Trained specialists carry out these fires when predetermined conditions are met relating to weather, type of vegetation, terrain, fire behaviour, fire control and smoke management. Fires are only lit in conditions that allow them to be controlled and contained within identified boundaries, and which minimize the amount and duration of smoke affecting neighbouring lands.

Our neighbours are contacted before any fire, and staff ensure that fire management addresses local and regional concerns.