Mid City Times

Published on May 28, 2024

Fort Worth Park & Recreation is pioneering the use of prescribed fire as a method to reduce wildfire risks, enhance public safety, and enrich local ecosystems.

Prescribed fire involves rigorous planning, strict adherence to safety protocols, and acquiring various permits to ensure minimal impact on the community. Fort Worth Park & Recreation collaborates with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the City of Fort Worth Bureau of Fire Prevention to develop and execute safe and effective prescribed fire plans.

Prescribed burns have been conducted at Chisholm Trail Community Center, Casino Beach Park, Fort Worth Botanic Garden, and the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge.

“We have seen a large increase in the number of plant and pollinator species in the burned areas this spring,” said Jared Hall, natural resource specialist in Park & Recreation. “We have seen many important native plants pop up after the fire that were not present before the burn. We have also seen new plant colonization in areas that lacked plants due to excessive accumulations of leaf litter and other dead plant materials that shade out new plants from growing.”

“This has made those areas more productive and provides more resources to wildlife,” he added.

Following a burn, an area remains black until rains wash ash into the soil and new plants begin growing again. The results are significant; exponentially more wildflowers have been observed in burned areas.

Future prescribed fires are scheduled for Rolling Hills Tree Farm, Rock Creek Ranch Park, Arcadia Trail Park North, and Tandy Hills. “We will slowly add in new parks to the rotation as we have time to work through the planning and permitting processes,” Hall said.