Prairie Burns and Prescribed Burns (Rx Burns) are done to help maintain the natural habitat for wildlife and reduce the chances of wildfires. Decades of research has demonstrated that by implementing a burn program and reducing accumulated fuel is the only proven and practical method to enable safe and efficient control of high-intensity forest fires. The key to a successful burn plan is to have the burns accomplished under mild weather conditions and as part of a regular action to ensure there is not a dangerous build up of fuel.

Prescribed burns - fires that are carefully planned - are beneficial to native prairie and oak savanna plant communities, as well. We conduct them only if a variety of conditions are met, including temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction. Precribed burning employs low-intensity fies lit under mild weather conditions at a time when there is still some moisture in the fuel. This ensures that the flames are generally less than a meter high and the fire is contained to the surface layer of fine fuel.

A properly managed prescribed fire will be conducted at a time when organic matter (including charcoal) in the soil will not burn. The ideal prescribed burn consumes only the surface fuels, not heavy logs, leaving behind a layer of ash thereby enhancing the soil. The layer of ash is an ideal fertilizer. If the reintroduction of native species is desired, the seed will be placed after the burn. This ensures that the seed is then ready to germinate and has sunlight and ash to act as a fertilizer.

Prescribed burns in a forest help the local game like deer and other animals. By removing the choking growth of invasive species and overburden of fuel, the animals can gain better access to the areas properly maintained. Other animals in the food chain, such as predator birds, can hunt small game and rodents through a savannah and able to land on forest floors.

Below is a picture of how a prescribed burns looks like when properly done: