YORK REGIONAL FOREST - BENDOR AND GRAVES TRACT CONTROLLED BURN

The Regional Municipality of York is planning a controlled burn of a tallgrass prairie in the York Regional Forest Bendor and Graves Tract at 17858 McCowan Road in the Town of East Gwillimbury. The controlled burn is scheduled between March 15 and April 30, 2024. 

These carefully set and managed fires are an important restoration tool to help maintain and protect tallgrass prairie habitat. The fire burns relatively quickly to consume dried grasses and leaves, but does not harm larger trees.  
 
The area to be burned is shaded in red, totalling 2.9 hectares (7.2 acres) and should take between one to three hours to complete. York Region is monitoring site and weather conditions to determine the ideal window of time to conduct the burn.  A controlled burn was successfully completed in March 2018 at the same location.  

Under ideal weather conditions, smoke from the controlled burn will rise without impacting surrounding properties. Changing conditions could lead to smoke temporarily reaching nearby residences. It is recommended residents close windows, doors and fire dampers as a precaution, while anyone sensitive to smoke is encouraged to stay indoors at the time of the burn.  

York Region worked with Tallgrass Ontario to establish this tallgrass prairie which is home to many insects and animals particularly migratory birds and pollinators. These unique forms of grassland habitat are not only rare in Ontario and globally at risk, but they are also an important part of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage. 

Visit york.ca/ControlledBurn to learn more.