Bulletins

Parks Canada is planning a prescribed fire in the area between Whitewater Lake, Gunn Lake and south to the park boundary of Riding Mountain National Park this fall. If weather and environmental conditions allow, the Menzie prescribed fire will take place between October and November. See Map 1.

Riding Mountain National Park will remain open to visitors during the prescribed fire. Some areas will be closed temporarily to ensure visitor and staff safety. See Map 2. 

There will be closures in place for the following areas:

Trails: Central Trail (From Long Lake junction to Baldy Lake junction), Baldy Lake Trial, Gunn Lake Trail and Long Lake Trail.

Campsites: Whitewater, Gunn Lake, Long Lake.

Parks Canada will inform the public when the prescribed fire has begun. The safety of people, infrastructure, and neighbouring lands is always Parks Canada’s priority.

Smoke and flames may be visible from a long distance. There is a possibility that smoke may drift to areas adjacent to the park. Neighbouring residents and property owners may experience some smoky conditions due to smoke travelling outside of the prescribed fire area.

Prescribed fires are complex operations that can require several years of preparation. Parks Canada wildland fire management specialists prepare a detailed prescribed fire plan and a project impact assessment before any work is done. Parks Canada wildland fire management specialists are experts in their fields. The Parks Canada National Fire Management Program has expertise in fire information and data management, fire science, prescribed fire, wildfire risk reduction, wildfire response, fire technology, geographic information systems, safety, and aircraft operations.

Prescribed fires remove available fuel for wildfires – reducing intensity, slowing spread, and making them easier to control or extinguish. Prescribed fires at Parks Canada administered places are only done under specific pre-determined conditions. Parks Canada fire management specialists assess weather and environmental conditions starting days in advance and continue these assessments right up to the moment before the decision to start the prescribed fire is made.

For up-to-date information about area or facility closures and other updates on the prescribed fire, please visit Riding Mountain National Park’s website at https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/mb/riding and Facebook page at facebook.com/RidingNP.

More information about Parks Canada’s National Fire Management Program can be found at: https://parks.canada.ca/nature/science/conservation/feu-fire.