High Park and South Humber Park to carry out traditional, prescribed burns in April

The City of Toronto will conduct traditional and prescribed burns in High Park and South Humber Park later this month, continuing an Indigenous practice that protects rare black oak savannah ecosystems.

Prescribed burns have been used across North America to restore and maintain fire-dependent ecosystems where naturally occurring fires provide renewal. Toronto has carried out the burns for over two decades.

"The traditional and prescribed burns are deliberately set and carefully controlled fires that burn low to the ground to consume dried leaves, twigs, and grass stems," the city said in a news release on Wednesday.

The burns are dependent on weather conditions, so the date will be selected 24 to 48 hours in advance, the city says. 

The city says both burns will be conducted on the same day. The High Park burn will begin in the late morning, followed by South Humber Park in the afternoon. 

On the day of the burn, High Park will be closed to vehicles and access will be limited to park users. South Humber Park will also restrict access on the day of the burn. 

People should expect temporary closures of trails near active burn sites in both locations. The city says notices will be placed at park entrances and in the surrounding community to advise the public of when the burn will take place. 

The city advises people with asthma and those who are highly sensitive to poison ivy to limit their exposure to the smoke by staying inside and keeping windows closed on the day of the burn.

"Under ideal weather conditions, smoke from the burns will not affect surrounding neighbourhoods. However, it is possible that some smoke will reach residential areas near the parks," said the city. 

The burn, which the city says is done in collaboration with the Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle, has been named Biinaakzigewok Anishnaabeg, which means "the responsibility for a cleansing fire by all Native Peoples" in Anishinaabemowin.