During March, the City of Wichita Park & Recreation Department is scheduling prescribed fire maintenance in Chisholm Creek Park, 3228 N Oliver. Weather conditions will determine the exact dates of the prescribed burns.
The prescribed fires will be implemented under strict Wichita Fire Department and Kansas Department of Health and Environment guidelines, and precautions will be taken to keep smoke and ash from leaving the park. On the day of the prescribed fire, the burn areas of the park will be closed to the public.
Fire is a natural and important ecological force in maintaining a healthy native grass meadow. The plants and animals which live in the prairie are adapted to and depend on periodic fires for their continued survival. Burning controls invasive species, removes dead material from the grassland and returns nutrients to the soil. Prescribed fires also reduce the amount of accumulated fuel in the prairie, reducing the risk and magnitude of wildfires.
