With a plan benefitting two city departments, Plano Fire-Rescue’s Wildland Firefighting team will work with Plano’s Park Department to conduct prescribed burns at the city’s Arbor Hills Nature Preserve throughout February.
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve consists of three ecological areas: blackland prairie, upland forests and riparian zones. Management of the blackland prairie areas has consisted of large tractor mowing twice a year and this has resulted in a thick layer of thatch that reduces the amount of exposed soil necessary for prairie grass and flower seeds to germinate and perpetuate their species. It also allows invasive plant species to come in and take over the natural prairie ecosystems.
The prescribed fires planned by Plano Fire-Rescue and Plano Parks will be carefully controlled burns conducted each Friday afternoon during the month of February. The fires will be conducted under defined fuel and weather conditions with a written plan and overseen by Plano Fire-Rescue firefighters trained in wildland firefighting.
“The burns are the most effective and efficient way to conserve the endangered blackland prairie ecosystem as the fire not only gets rid of accumulated thatch, it also helps reduce woody plant invasion, stimulates the growth of many native grasses and wildflowers, and exposes bare soil so the area can be successfully planted with prairie grass and prairie flower seeds,” said Kym Hughes, Superintendent of Natural Resources for the Parks Department. “Prescribed fire will help to maintain the viability and health of the blackland prairie ecosystem in Arbor Hills.”
While benefitting the park property, the burns will also provide real-life training opportunities for the city’s Wildland firefighters. “These burns show yet another way two departments are working together to benefit the city,” said Fire Chief Brian Crawford. “Live fire training opportunities like this are rare and being able to assist the Parks Department with this needed mitigation will benefit our TIFMAS (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System) Wildland Response Team greatly.”
The park will remain open to the public during the burns but the concrete trail on the west side of the nature preserve will be closed.
