Prescribed and cultural burns for wildfire resilience

Prescribed and cultural burns strengthen community resilience by reducing wildfire risk and restoring ecosystems. Prescribed burning or cultural burning involves the planned and controlled application of fire to specific land areas to manage vegetation, lower hazardous fuels, and improve habitat. These practices increase community resilience by reducing the likelihood of severe wildfires, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining Indigenous land stewardship.

For small and rural communities, prescribed burns are an affordable, rapid intervention that enhances safety while strengthening cultural ties. They also allow communities to proactively manage risk rather than relying solely on reactive firefighting, which is particularly important when rural and remote regions have less access to firefighting resources.

This guidance outlines key steps, best practices, costing information and case studies to help municipalities plan and deliver prescribed and cultural burn projects.

Key steps for successful implementation

• Plan collaboratively: Co-develop burn plans with Indigenous Knowledge holders, fire agencies¹, local firefighters and neighbouring communities

• Prepare a burn plan: Consider inputs (fuel, weather, geography), outputs (fire intensity, spread) and anticipated ecological impacts (wildlife, habitat, watershed)

• Assign leadership roles: Designate a certified burn boss and assign team roles for planning, operations, logistics, communications and monitoring

• Secure permits and approvals: Consult provincial/territorial authorities (e.g., wildfire services, parks management) and local fire services for compliance details

• Develop a smoke management plan: Outline timing, wind considerations, personal protective equipment (PPE) use and public notifications; include monitoring indicators and post-burn checks

• Keep team members informed: Hold a pre-burn briefing to confirm that all team members are aware of the burn plan, understand their roles and are aware of safety precautions

Best practices for design and delivery

• Follow ecological and seasonal cues: Braid meteorological data with Indigenous Knowledge (e.g., plant cycles, soil moisture, animal behaviour) to identify safe and effective burn windows

• Promote Indigenous leadership and co-management: Support Indigenous leadership and co-management throughout all project phases; advocate for the presence of cultural monitors during the burn to ensure that implementation follows traditional protocols

• Keep safety top of mind: Ensure all personnel are properly trained, equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and briefed on their specific roles and the communication plan

• Support communication: Provide advance notice of burn activities via letters, public notices, social media, and partnerships with local organizations to build public trust and understanding; build awareness of the purpose and impacts of a prescribed burn

Equity and community considerations

• Protect vulnerable residents: Connect with nearby residents who may be particularly vulnerable to smoke (e.g., older adults, people with respiratory illnesses) to develop clear smoke-communication plans (e.g., in-person outreach, community networks); provide PPE when feasible and use local community centres as clean-air shelters

• Communicate with a diversity of residents: Ensure that communications reach those without internet access (e.g., use posters, local radio, door-to-door info); create plain-language notices and translate into locally spoken languages

• Hire local and Indigenous contractors: Support local economic development through procuring local or Indigenous contractors and prioritizing workforce development in underemployed populations

Costing and budgeting information

Prescribed burns can cost $1,500–$8,000 per hectare, depending on site size, conditions and complexity.

Key cost drivers include equipment (e.g., drip torches, protective clothing, radios), transportation to and from remote sites, insurance and liability coverage, and post-burn monitoring and evaluation.

To help reduce overall costs:

• Select burn sites with clear access and minimal preparation needs

• Conduct burns in smaller phases and expanding as funding becomes available

• Form collaborative partnerships with wildfire agencies, training organizations and neighbouring communities to share resources, expertise and learnings

Case studies and lessons learned

Indigenous-led cultural burn restores a gathering site (Kluane First Nation, YT, 2023)

Kluane First Nation conducted a controlled cultural burn at Duke Meadow to rejuvenate an overgrown site, enabling the annual Yukon Handgames Championships. The project was led by Kluane citizens using Traditional Knowledge and local leadership, with support from the Yukon Wildland Fire Management team. The burn reduced hazardous vegetation, improved overall site safety and revitalized cultural practices tied to land stewardship.

Lesson learned: Collaborative planning that integrates Indigenous Knowledge and community priorities can simultaneously reduce wildfire risk, restore ecosystems and strengthen cultural identity.

Provincial partnership boosts local capacity to conduct a prescribed burn (Cook’s Ferry Indian Band, BC, 2023)

Cook’s Ferry Indian Band partnered with BC Wildfire Service to conduct a 150-hectare prescribed burn near Spence’s Bridge. The project aimed to lower wildfire risk for nearby communities by strategically reducing fuel loads and reintroducing fire into the ecosystem. Planning emphasized clear accountability and ongoing communication with external stakeholders to ensure safety and prevent future fire-related incidents.

Lesson learned: Partnerships with wildfire agencies can help small communities reduce risks. Success depends on transparent roles, continuous dialogue and shared responsibility throughout the process.

Prescribed burns as learning and capacity building opportunities (Saskatoon, SK, 2021)

The Meewasin Valley Authority conducted a five-acre prescribed burn at the Northeast Swale, a 300-hectare natural area in Saskatoon containing native grasslands, shrublands and wetlands. Supported by the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange (CPPFE), the burn served both ecological and educational objectives: reducing invasive shrubs and buildup of litter while providing hands-on training for new fire practitioners.

The event brought together Meewasin staff, municipal and academic partners, and volunteers from across Saskatchewan and Alberta, many of whom had completed CPPFE’s course, Introduction to Prescribed Fire in the Canadian Grassland Environment. The burn doubled as a live training opportunity, allowing participants to gain real-time experience with ignition, holding, and mop-up procedures under expert supervision.

Lesson learned: Integrating prescribed burns with structured training builds local capacity for safe, effective fire management while strengthening inter-agency collaboration and knowledge sharing across shared ecosystems.

*Note: The case studies included on this page are for informational purposes and were not supported by the Green Municipal Fund.

Additional resources

How to plan a burn (BC Wildfire Service) – This video guide provides a practical, step-by-step overview of how to safely plan and execute a prescribed burn in British Columbia. It covers key elements such as site selection, weather conditions, safety protocols, and coordination with local authorities to ensure effective and responsible fire use.

Traditional Ecological Fire Knowledge (Penticton Indian Band) – This case study provides guidance on integrating Traditional Knowledge into fire management approaches. It outlines implementing fuel reduction techniques, ensuring cultural protocols and safety, engaging communities through training, and conducting post-burn monitoring for adaptive management.

Prescribed fire factsheet (City of Saskatoon) – This factsheet outlines how prescribed fire is used as a land management tool to maintain healthy ecosystems and reduce wildfire hazards. It provides clear, accessible information for the public on benefits, safety measures and timing of burns in urban and natural areas.

Explore more wildfire resilience activities

Learn about other wildfire resilience project types and how they can support your community:

• Vegetative management and replacement
• Wildfire prevention training

Return to the Wildfire Resilience Toolkit for Municipalities

Related toolkits

GMF offers additional toolkits to support municipalities facing different climate risks. 

• Flood Resilience Toolkit
• Heat Resilience Toolkit
• Community Facilities Toolkit

Glossary

Prescribed burn: A planned fire conducted under controlled conditions to reduce hazardous fuels, improve ecosystem health and lower wildfire risk

Cultural burn: A fire intentionally set by Indigenous communities using Traditional Knowledge to restore landscapes, maintain cultural practices and support ecological balance

Burn plan: A detailed document outlining the objectives, methods, safety protocols and ecological considerations for conducting a prescribed or cultural burn

Burn boss: A certified individual responsible for overseeing the planning, execution and safety of a prescribed or cultural burn

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK): Indigenous knowledge systems based on generations of observation and interaction with the environment, used to guide land stewardship and fire practices

Smoke management plan: A strategy to minimize smoke impacts on communities, including timing, wind conditions, protective equipment and public communication

Cultural monitor: An Indigenous community member who ensures that cultural protocols are respected and followed during a burn

Clean air shelter: A designated indoor space with filtered air used to protect vulnerable residents from smoke exposure during burns or wildfires

Select resources

1. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/wildfires/prov.html