Each spring and fall, burn permits are issued to property owners in Riley County to help maintain vegetation, fire fuel loads, and revive the prairie. Prescribed burns benefit native grasslands and promote the sustainability of the ecosystem. When weather conditions allow, people with burn permits may conduct controlled burns on their property.
Before burning
Check your local weather conditions and rangeland fire index. Property owners are responsible for their fire and the smoke it produces.
Make sure you have enough manpower and equipment (shovels, rakes, water with pumps) to control the burn.
Make sure your equipment is in good working order.
Call the controlled burn hotline before lighting the fire at (785) 565-6216 or (866) 565-6216 toll-free.
Call the controlled burn hotline when your burn is complete.
Check your fire later that day and recheck again the next day as rekindled fires are a leading cause of major wildfires and property damage in Riley County.
Benefits
The benefits of safe and effective controlled burning include restoring nutrients to the soil by removing dead organic matter, preventing invasive species from out-competing native prairie plants, removing dry lingering “tinderbox” plant matter, and maintaining a grassy environment where woody trees would otherwise take over.
Managing Smoke
The Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan was developed to balance the need for prescribed fire in the Flint Hills with the need for clean air in downwind communities.
The person performing the controlled burn must take into consideration the weather conditions and what effect the smoke generated by their controlled burn will have on neighboring property and the safety of nearby public roadways.