Fire Management Policy for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves

In 2004, the Ministry of Natural Resources approved a new Fire Management Policy for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves.  The policy was developed jointly between three divisions of MNR: Ontario Parks, Field Services Division, and the Aviation and Forest Fire Management Program.

The goal of the new policy 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 policy will also help to ensure that preventing personal injury, value loss and social disruption resulting from forest fires remains the utmost priority. This goal complements MNR's new Forest Fire Management Strategy for Ontario, and the objectives of the Aviation and Forest Fire Management Program, which are:

·       To prevent personal injury, value loss and social disruption resulting from forest fires, and
·       To promote understanding of the ecological role of fire and utilize its beneficial effects in resource management.

The policy directs protected area stewards and fire managers to:

·       Consider and document the role of fire
·       Develop clear preliminary objectives for fire use and fire response, and
·       Develop recommendations for further planning.

These preliminary objectives and recommendations will be recorded in a Statement of Fire Intent (SFI). The three MNR divisions are also jointly preparing Draft Fire Management Planning Guidelines for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves to help protected area stewards and fire managers prepare Statements of Fire Intent and develop fire management direction within protected area planning documents, including fire management plans.

Notices regarding this approved policy will be posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights website. Paper copies of the Fire Management Policy for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves are also available. Send your request to: rob.davis@mnr.gov.on.ca

Information on MNR's Aviation and Forest Fire Management Program, including the new Forest Fire Management Strategy for Ontario, is available at http://affm.mnr.gov.on.ca/spectrasites/internet/affm/fire.cfm

 

Fire in Parks and Conservation Reserves - Background Document

NOTE: You do require Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05 (or higher) to view these files. A free copy of the software can be downloaded from http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE: WINDOWS users: To save a copy for printing, "right-click" on the link and "Save Target as" to your hard drive. MACINTOSH users: Hold-click on link "Save this Link as" format: Source.

Last Modified: September 2, 2004
Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2008