Parks Canada has started a prescribed fire in Riding Mountain National Park.
The fire is in the Lake Audy area of the park. Prescribed fires are intentionally set to limit the spread of aspen and shrubs, remove white spruce encroaching into grassland areas, and rejuvinate forest stands, according to the Parks Canada news release.
This specific fire is designed to improve the forage for grazing wildlife like bison, elk, and deer, and to reduce the risk of a high intensity wildfire within the park in the future.
Parks Canada says smoke and flames may be visible from a long distance, and smoke may drift outside of the park.
The park will remain open to visitors during the fire, but some areas could be closed to ensure visitor safety. Potential closures include the bison enclosure and facilities, Lake Audy Road and Lake Audy Dam Road, and several trails in the area of the fire.
