NEWS RELEASE
COUNTY OF SIMCOE
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The County of Simcoe will be executing a controlled burn on approximately 27 acres within the Packard Tract in the Township of Essa, located at 8398 Line 9 (at the end of the 9th Line of Essa, south of Highway 90).
The controlled burn is expected to be completed in one day and will occur as early as conditions allow between mid-September and the end of October 2020.
The exact timing of the burn will be dictated by site and weather conditions and cannot be determined at this time.
The controlled burn will support the second phase of the County’s Kirtland’s Warbler Habitat Restoration project. More information about the project can be found by clicking here.
Once the date of the controlled burn has been confirmed, media, stakeholders and the public will be informed through a variety of communication channels, including:
- County website: www.simcoe.ca
- Twitter: @simcoecounty and @simcoecountyCS
- Facebook: @CountyofSimcoe
- Instagram: @countyofsimcoe
- Details will also be published through local media outlets (should timelines permit)
- Stakeholder and near-neighbour communications
A highly experienced company has been retained to plan and conduct the burn, and trained personnel will be on site until the fire is completely extinguished. The impact of the smoke will be minimized by burning under specific wind and atmospheric conditions, however there will be times when large amounts of low-lying smoke will be present.
At other stages in the operation, a smoke column may be seen for many miles. There is no cause for alarm, as this is all part of normal operations for the type of fuels being burned.
The County does not anticipate any road closures or any major impact or disruption to local residents.
While controlled burns differ from wildfires, in that they are often managed to control smoke exposures to the public and are of much shorter overall durations than forest fires, concerns can arise regarding smoke exposure and health.
Smoke exposure may pose a risk for more vulnerable individuals such as children, elderly and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions. Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize your exposure to smoke:
- If you live close to the controlled burn site and have chronic health conditions such as asthma and chronic lung disease, you may wish to minimize your exposure by staying indoors during the burn. If you have health concerns, follow up with your health care provider.
- If you have concerns regarding exposure to smoke while outdoors, consider reducing your outdoor physical activities near the affected area. •
- To help reduce smoke in your homes and businesses, keep windows and doors closed.
County Council approved the Simcoe County Forest Management Plan to guide our policies through 2030. The Plan outlines that fire has historically played a primary role by influencing the composition, structure and patterns of our forests, and states that fire will continue to be used as a strategy moving forward.
This particular controlled burn is part of an international effort to create habitat for the Kirtland's Warbler, a globally endangered migratory bird, in its natural range in Simcoe County. The burn will help to reduce non-native vegetation, create structure important for Kirtland’s nesting habitat, and establish a diverse forest of native species.
Controlled burns have been conducted previously within the County Forests. The two most recent burns occurred in 2018 within the Museum Tract in Springwater Township and in 2014 within the Brentwood Tract in Clearview Township.
Public questions and inquiries can be directed to our County Forestry Department by contacting Service Simcoe at 1-800-263-3199 or [email protected]. More information about the controlled burn can be found here.
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