Prescribed burns are safe, cost-effective, and ecologically appropriate for maintaining populations of native species and their habitat. Burns are conducted by trained and experienced staff, contractors, and volunteers under a permit from the Madison Fire Department. Burns only occur within strict weather parameters that limit the intensity of the fire and prevent smoke from creating a hazard to the public.
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Many people may have concerns about the risk of wildfires in our area. Prescribed burning helps to reduce the amount of fuel (leaf litter, dead vegetation, and woody debris) available, thus limiting the possible severity of a wildfire. In addition, ongoing vegetation management in parks, along with roads, paths and lawns would help contain a wildfire, preventing its spread across a large area.
With the recent extreme wildfire activity in California, many people are turning their attention to wildfire preparedness and wondering about the risks we face here in Madison. Our city's natural areas--including conservancies, parks, and wetlands--are vegetated with woods and prairie, making them susceptible to fire. While fire has shaped Midwest habitats for thousands of years, excessive shrubs and dead wood from fire suppression increase fire intensity.
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Unlike fire-prone regions like southern California, which have flammable chaparral and experience strong Santa Ana Winds, the Midwest's vegetation is less flammable due to air and soil moisture. While dead wood can burn, it requires "fine fuels" like grass or leaves to sustain flames. Our flat landscape is influenced by humid air masses that typically limit intense burning.
To mitigate wildfire risks, park management actively reduces fire fuels. Invasive shrubs are removed, woody debris is cleared, trails are maintained, and safe prescribed burns are conducted. These practices aim to contain wildfires, especially on dry, windy days. Fire behavior in our areas is variable, with topography and vegetation affecting flame height and speed. Notably, a green lawn can completely halt a fire.
Because burns are so weather-dependent, they cannot be scheduled in advance. Instead, staff select which sites to burn next based on the most current weather forecast. Subtle changes in wind direction or humidity determine our options on a given day, so we can only reliably plan out a few days in advance. Generally, a series of days with relative humidity below 50 % will bring us a window of opportunity. Then wind direction determines which sites we can burn with minimal direct impacts due to smoke. See the Parks and Engineering 2025 sites list, ready for a prescribed burn.
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