Prescribed Fire Season

Photo by Wendy Murkve.

Have you seen smoke and flames in the parks? It may be a

prescribed fire. The trained and certified staff of both Madison Parks and Dane County Parks are busy this time of year when conditions are optimal for conducting a prescribed burn.

Photo by Wendy Murkve.

Prescribed burns are the intentional use of fire, under specific environmental conditions, to manage and suppress invasive vegetation. Many of Wisconsin’s native species have adapted to survive or to benefit from fire events while, at the same time, the presence of invasive or undesirable species is reduced. Prescribed burns occur after comprehensive planning and under specific weather conditions conducive to a safe and manageable operation.

Photo by Sheila Leary.

A precise schedule is impossible in advance, as burns depend on specific weather conditions: temperatures above 40 degrees and relative humidity between 20% and 50%. Wind direction influences which locations can be burned to prevent dense smoke from affecting sensitive areas like roadways and neighborhoods.