Wildfires - Natural but Changing
People that live on the Boreal Shield in Ontario have already noticed more fires and fires earlier in the spring and later in the fall than before. In the Hudson Bay lowlands, people speak of fires on their land where fires were rare.
Forest fires are a natural part of the boreal forest ecosystem of Ontario but if they get too close to communities, they can put people and communities at risk. Fires are predicted to become more frequent with our changing climate because of hotter, drier and longer summers and more storms that will bring lighting strikes.
Here is what you and your community can do:
raise awareness about human-caused fires
monitor for wildfire risk in your area
use fire resistant materials for homes & buildings
keep people informed with community alerts
monitor for smoke & air quality
manage trees & plants in and around the community
monitor water quality after a fire in the area
create an emergency plan for the community
become a FireSmart community
