Where there’s smoke, there’s fire at Point Pelee National Park.

Yesterday marked the start of a nearly month-long controlled burn at the park – officials say prescribed fires help with the restoration of the ecosystem by preventing the spread of invasive plants and trees, and improving habitat for species at risk.

According to a news release issued this week, the measure “is an important step in restoring healthy, resilient ecosystems that support a variety of birds, butterflies, and Species at Risk which depend on open, sunny savannah habitat to survive.”

While the park remains open to visitors, some areas will be closed sporadically through to mid-April.