A fiery orange glow illuminates the Flint Hills, filling the air with the smell of smoke as farmers and landowners carry out prescribed burns to regulate prairie health.
According to the Kansas Forest Service, the burn season lasts from late February to mid-April, playing a “critical role in maintaining our grasslands health and reducing wildlife risk.”
The Kansas Prescribed Fire Council developed a smoke management plan in 2010 to prevent inhalation by Flint Hills residents, as well as a training program to help landowners safely plan and execute prescribed burns.
The Forest Service recommends five steps for burn participants to stay safe:
- Develop a plan: Obtain all necessary permits and equipment required to burn and contact your neighbors to sync up burns.
- Prepare the site: Create areas where the fire will break, such as mowed areas. Cut down any trees or vegetation that may catch fire.
- Observe the weather: Closely monitor the weather for when you’ll be burning. The forest service recommends burning on days where winds blow 8-13 mph and humidity is above 30%.
- Monitor the burn: Notify your county dispatch 30 minutes prior to the burn, and keep a close eye out as it progresses.
- Check and re-check the site: Patrol the burn’s edge repeatedly after the burn is complete, extinguishing any remaining flames. Re-check the site for several days afterward.
Those interested in obtaining a burn permit may apply online at the Riley County website.
