Lesson 3: Fire

Fire plays an important role in Alberta's forest ecosystems.  Fire has been a process of forest renewal and has helped maintain forest health and diversity since the last ice age ended 10,000 to 15,000 years ago.

Some of the beneficial effects of forest fires include:

• removal of dead trees and leaf litter

• release of nutrients

• reduction of insect infestations

• new growth; the lodgepole pine actually requires high heat in order to release the seeds from its cones.

In 2017, Canada experienced 5,611 forest fires, with approximately 3.4 million hectares burned, well above the average annual area burned.
In Alberta, specifically in the years 2015-2018, there were a number of devastating fires, such as:

• The Ft. MacMurray fire in 2016

• The Kenow Wildfire in 2017 in Waterton Lakes National Park

• The Pincher Creek fire in 2018 that started in British Columbia
  

The government of Alberta has a website with an abundance of information on wildfires in Alberta: https://www.alberta.ca/wildfire.aspx

As one of the most important natural agents of change, you can see how fire plays a vital role in maintaining the forest ecosystem. 
In the past, Indigenous people understood this and used fires to maintain healthy ecosystems. 
Today, prescribed fires are used to restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire.  A prescribed fire is the controlled application of fire, by experts, under specific weather conditions.  
The benefits of a prescribed fire include encouraging new growth and safely removing excess shrubs, brush and trees.
Prescribed fires are the most effective tool we have to prevent and manage wildfires.
Click on the Wildfire Alberta website to see where current prescribed fires are occurring.