The City of Winnipeg will be setting fire to areas of the city in order to help new life spring up in prairie grass areas.

The City of Winnipeg's Public Works Department will be conducting controlled burns in various natural areas until June 14, weather conditions permitting.

The City said in a release that controlled burns will be conducted in suitable wind conditions with appropriate fire guards in place.

According to the release, fire plays an important role in the preservation and restoration of prairies. "In the past, wildfires would often burn across the prairie reducing litter and returning nutrients to the soil. The fires would be followed by fresh new growth and abundant wildflowers. Controlled burns play the same role as the wildfires from the past, they also reduce encroachment by woody species and help to control invasive non-native species."

The City says that lack of fire allows weeds to invade these endangered plant communities.

Controlled burns have been conducted on Winnipeg's tallgrass prairies since 1986.