Prescribed Fire in Michigan State Parks
A prescribed fire is a fire that is intentionally ignited under a strict set of weather and site conditions to accomplish a specific resource management or ecological objective.
Reason for Prescribed Fire
Fire is a natural ecosystem process. Naturally occurring fires have played a critical role in shaping much of the natural landscape of Michigan. State Parks preserve Michigan's natural heritage, including many significant natural areas that are fire dependent. Fire is important in prairies, savannas, oak woodlands, pine forests, and even many wetlands. 
Our native plants and animals are adapted to co-exist with fire, and even depend on it for survival. Fire helps set back encroaching shrubs and trees, stimulates native plants, and fertilizes the soil with ash.
Prior to widespread European settlement in Michigan, fires were commonly ignited by Native Americans or by lightening strikes. Because fires have been suppressed in our landscape for over 200 years for protection of homes, cities, and crops, Michigan's prairies, savannas, and other fire-dependant ecosystems are quickly disappearing.
Prepare the Site
Prospective sites are evaluated each year by an ecologist. The ecologist prepares an ecological prescription for the site, including a description of the area to be burned, the intensity and severity of fire desired, and the reason for burning. After this ecological prescription is approved, fire officers from the DNRE's Forest Management Division visit the site and prepare the burn plan. The burn plan includes details such as specific weather conditions, locations of fire control lines, ignition pattern, equipment and personnel needed, contingency plans, and important phone numbers. The burn plan is essentially the "prescription" for how to conduct the burn safely while accomplishing the management objectives.
Safety
Prescribed fires are coordinated and monitored by trained fire officers of the DNRE's Forest Management Division, the same fire officers trained to fight wildland fires. Fires are only conducted when weather conditions are within the limits specified in the burn prescription. Fire officers always have equipment such as pumper trucks with
water ready if the fire does not behave as expected.
During the burn, animals will generally find cover by retreating to burrows, flying away, or moving out of the burn area. Animal habitat is improved after a fire.
Land Recovery
Burned areas generally "green up" very quickly, often in as little as a week or two. Sunlight warms the dark ash-covered soil, creating an ideal environment for plant growth.
Time of Year That is Best for a Prescribed Fire
Most prescribed fires are conducted in spring (mid-March - early May) or fall (November), but fires could be planned for other seasons if the ecological and safety objectives can be met. Marsh burns are sometimes conducted in winter. The specific day or time of a prescribed fire cannot be scheduled in advance because the burns are so dependent on weather conditions (temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, and ground moisture).
Prescribed burning has occurred in Michigan State Parks since 1990, when the first burns were initiated at Algonac State Park. Since then, the use of prescribed fire in parks has expanded to encompass nine parks, with hundreds of acres burned annually. Currently this includes portions of Algonac State Park and Bass River, Bay City, Brighton, Fort Custer, Highland, Island Lake, Pinckney, and Waterloo Recreation Areas. Over 1/3 of Michigan State Parks will likely benefit from fire management.
Related Resources
Michigan Interagency Wildliand Fire Protection Association
