News Release

Prescribed Fire Season at the Preserve 2023

Flames burning prairie grass with blackened burned areas
Prescribed Fire at the Preserve

NPS

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News Release Date: February 23, 2023

Contact: Heather Brown, 6202736034

Strong City, Kansas – Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve announced its prescribed fire season beginning now through April, weather conditions and moisture levels permitting. For current conditions and trail closures, please call the park, go to the Alerts section on the website, or check out our Facebook page.

Prescribed fire is one method used to promote a healthy prairie and maintain the cultural landscape of the preserve. It is also used by preserve land managers to control woody vegetation and promote native plant and animal diversity. Prescribed fire is a partnership operation involving The Nature Conservancy, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Learn more about fire by going to the preserve’s website and clicking on the Nature section.

Fire practitioners look for a narrow set of weather conditions for specific fires to have desired ecological impacts and smoke dispersal.  Due to the unpredictability of weather patterns, wind speed and direction, and relative humidity, there is usually not much advanced notice leading up to a prescribed burn. Some trails and areas may be closed during prescribed fire operations (on short notice). Visitors who are hiking or fishing may have their plans interrupted as a result of the burning activity, but this typically does not last more than a day. For safety, visitors are asked to not cross any fire lines or venture beyond barricades and signs.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located two miles north of Strong City on Kansas State Highway 177 (the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway) and is a unique public/private partnership between the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy. For more information, visit the preserve’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NPS.TallgrassPrairie , website at www.nps.gov/tapr, email e-mail us, or call the preserve at (620) 273-8494 ext 270. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy in Kansas, visit the Conservancy’s website at www.nature.org/Kansas or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TNCKansas .-NPS-



Last updated: February 23, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

2480B KS Hwy 177
Strong City, KS 66869

Phone:

620 273-8494 x270

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