By Jan Axelson
Northside News

Each spring, Madison’s Parks and Engineering Divisions conduct prescribed burns at Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park and other natural areas, including Warner Park.

A trained “burn boss” is responsible for managing the fire and ensuring the burn is performed safely. Before burning, the team defines a target area by setting firebreaks, typically existing or temporary mowed paths or edges of bodies of water. The crew uses drip torches to place fuel to start the fire line, and wind carries the flames across the target area. Burns take place only when the wind speed and direction are deemed safe.

Burning is effective because Wisconsin’s prairie and savanna plants evolved with fire. The deep roots of prairie flowers and grasses help the plants survive heat and flames, and the bur oaks of the prairie have fire-resistant bark. Species that aren’t native to our area, including non-native honeysuckle and buckthorn, are killed or set back by burning. Following a burn, the native prairie and savanna plants can thrive with less competition.

Most animals can flee flames by leaving the area or going underground. To prevent killing an entire population of an insect or other creature, the crew burns only a portion of a block of habitat each year.

The Parks Division also uses prescribed fire in forested areas and wetlands. In forests, the fire runs quickly through the landscape without generating enough heat to damage trees. In wetlands, fire can burn off grasses, shrubs and cattails that can choke out native sedge meadows.

Prescribed burns such as these continue a practice of Native Americans, who ran fires through the landscape to improve hunting and harvests and to ease travel.