The City of Toronto, in collaboration with the Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle, is preparing for the annual traditional and prescribed burns in High Park and Lambton Park to help protect and restore local ecosystems. The burns are expected to take place in late March or early April. Dates will be confirmed 24 to 48 hours in advance depending on weather conditions.
Traditional and prescribed burns are controlled fires that burn low to the ground and consume dried leaves, twigs and grass stems. Cities across North America perform these burns annually to support fire-dependent ecosystems. Toronto has used these burns for more than two decades and they are part of the City’s long-term management plan to restore and protect rare Black Oak woodlands and savannahs in parks.
Indigenous Peoples have performed traditional burns to protect and sustain Black Oak woodland and savannah ecosystems for thousands of years. The Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle brings Indigenous ceremony and traditional knowledge to the centre of the burns. The name of the traditional burn, ‘Biinaakzigewok Anishnaabeg’, given by Elder Henry Pitawanakwat, means “the responsibility for a cleansing fire by all Native Peoples” in Anishinaabemowin.
Impacts to Toronto residents
High Park will be closed to vehicles on the day of the burn and access near burn zones will be closed off to park users in both High Park and Lambton Park. Park users should expect temporary closures of trails near active burn sites.
Notices will be posted throughout parks and in the surrounding community to advise the public of when the burn will take place. The public is asked to follow all safety signage.
Those with respiratory conditions or sensitivities are encouraged to stay inside and keep windows closed.
Additional information is available on the City’s Traditional and Prescribed Burn webpage.
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