Each spring the preserve is burned to allow for quicker regrowth of prairie grasses. Just like the early settlers, the National Park Service places a "blackline" (or burn line) around the ranch headquarters area to keep it safe from the spring prairie burns. A burn line is a line that is burned around an area to be protected from fires. Most common burn lines range from 50 to 100 feet wide.

In the photo to the right, the "blackline" was the first line to be burned. It was burned approximately two weeks before the entire west side of the preserve was burned. Therefore, it is also the first area to begin regrowth. Note the green line. This is the blackline that was burned around the historic buildings. The blackened area to its left is the remains of the spring prairie burns. It too will start growing grass.

Fire is essential to the health of the prairie. It rids the prairie of woody vegetation and undergrowth, while promoting new growth. Without fire, the prairie will becomes a forest over time.