Ganondagan State Historic Site in Victor, NY conducted a prescribed burn in October 2024. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP),
in collaboration with the Division of Environmental Stewardship and Planning and the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation approved the necessary plans to conduct a prescribed
burn on NY State Parks land. The prescribed burn plans have been completed by experienced and
nationally certified specialists in wildland fire management and all considerations have been made to
prioritize public safety. Up to 171 acres were managed by prescribed burning in 2024.
Enhancing and preserving natural areas and historic places is an integral part of OPRHP’s mission
while interpreting the culture and history of the Seneca people is the primary goal of Ganondagan State
Historic Site. In Western New York, prescribed burns were first used by the Seneca people as a tool for
maintaining agricultural land and promoting healthy grassland and forest ecosystems. For these same
purposes, prescribed burns are still utilized by land managers today. After years of intensive invasive
species and habitat management, the application of prescribed fire to the Oak Unit will help to portray a
landscape reminiscent of the 1700s when the Seneca people were settled at Ganondagan.