Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange (CPPFE) Hosts Saskatchewan's 5th Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX)
Saskatoon – October 2026 – From October 19–23, the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange (CPPFE), in partnership with Meewasin Valley Authority and collaborating organizations, will host Saskatchewan’s 5th Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX) at multiple sites throughout the Saskatoon region.
Bringing together approximately 70 participants representing 35 agencies and organizations from across Canada and the United States, this year’s event marks the largest Canadian Prairies TREX held to date.
TREX provides hands-on training and leadership development for a diverse group of fire practitioners, including land managers, ranchers, conservation organizations, academics, firefighters, Indigenous land stewards, and volunteer fire departments. The program is designed to strengthen prescribed fire skills, build operational capacity, and foster interagency collaboration to advance grassland restoration, biodiversity conservation, and wildfire risk reduction across prairie and parkland landscapes.
Participants use the knowledge and experience gained through TREX to enhance prescribed fire programs within their own organizations and communities, helping expand the safe and effective use of prescribed fire across North America.
The 2026 Canadian Prairies TREX will include live prescribed fire training and operational exercises at a variety of locations throughout the Saskatoon region, including Meewasin-managed conservation areas, partner conservation lands, and urban naturalized parks.
Under the supervision of experienced burn bosses and qualified instructors, participants will gain practical experience in all aspects of prescribed fire operations, including planning, ignition, holding, monitoring, and mop-up activities.
Prescribed fires are carefully planned, intentionally set burns conducted under specific environmental and weather conditions to achieve ecological and land management objectives. These objectives may include:
- Restoring native prairie ecosystems;
- Enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem resilience;
- Reducing woody plant encroachment;
- Lowering wildfire risk by reducing excess fuel accumulation; and
- Maintaining and protecting habitat for species at risk.
Every prescribed fire conducted during TREX is guided by a detailed Prescribed Fire Prescription, which outlines the precise conditions required for a safe and effective burn, including temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, fuel moisture, and contingency requirements.
If any condition falls outside of approved parameters, the burn does not proceed.
Months, and often years, of planning, site preparation, and environmental assessment precede each prescribed fire. Trained personnel, specialized equipment, communications systems, and contingency resources are in place to ensure public and operational safety.
Prescribed fire activities may occur at various urban and rural locations throughout the Saskatoon region during the week of October 19–23. Members of the public may notice smoke or fire operations in designated treatment areas. For daily updates on burn locations and operational activities, residents are encouraged to follow Meewasin and the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange on social media.
“TREX is more than a training exchange; it is a leadership event and an invaluable opportunity to bring together practitioners from across North America to build skills, share knowledge, and strengthen partnerships. By investing in training and collaboration, we are helping expand the safe and effective use of prescribed fire as a tool for restoring prairie ecosystems and reducing future wildfire risk.”
– Renny W. Grilz, PAg (Distinguished), Director of Conservation, Meewasin Valley Authority and Incident Commander, 2026 TREX
In addition to Meewasin, partner agencies for this year’s TREX include:
- Brightwater Center (Saskatoon Public Schools)
- Canadian Wildlife Service (Environment and Climate Change Canada)
- City of Saskatoon Naturalized Parks Program
- Nature Conservancy of Canada – Prairie Region
- Saskatchewan Provincial Parks
- University of Saskatchewan Department of Plant Sciences
- Wanuskewin Heritage Park
This event is made possible through generous financial support from the Weston Family Prairie Grasslands Initiative, which is helping build the partnerships, skills, and capacity needed to protect and restore Canada’s threatened prairie ecosystems.
About Meewasin Valley Authority
The Meewasin Valley Authority exists to ensure a healthy and vibrant river valley, with a balance between human use and conservation by:
- Providing leadership in the management of its resources
- Promoting understanding, conservation and beneficial use of the Valley; and
- Undertaking programs and projects in river valley development and conservation, for the benefit of present and future generations.
There are 67 square kilometers of land and 108km of established trail, which has seen up to 2.365 million trail visits per year, in the Meewasin Valley. The area also features sites that help people to connect to nature through experiences such as Beaver Creek Conservation Area, the Meewasin Northeast Swale, Saskatoon Natural Grasslands, the River Landing Spray Area, and the Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink @Nutrien Plaza. Meewasin is a non-profit organization that relies on donations and volunteers for sustainability. To get involved or learn more visit www.meewasin.com.
About the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange
The Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange (CPPFE) is a collaborative initiative hosted and managed by Meewasin Valley Authority that works to increase the safe and effective use of prescribed fire through training, knowledge exchange, research, and partnership development. The CPPFE supports the conservation and restoration of prairie grasslands while building capacity among land managers, Indigenous communities, producers, and conservation practitioners across Western Canada.