Prescribed fires planned for wildlife management areas this spring

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Officials with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) will work with local officials in a number of Kentucky counties to use prescribed fires as part of ongoing habitat management on the department’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). Some of those counties are in western Kentucky.

The KDFWR says throughout March and April, fire experts will conduct these controlled burns across the state to help restore the health of local ecosystems that depend on fire. Properties will be scheduled for one- or two-day prescribed fires as local activity permits and when weather conditions are optimal from both environmental and safety standpoints. Fire managers will take into consideration wind, air temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture and other factors before determining when to conduct the fires. If favorable conditions do not occur, projects may be pushed to later dates.

Officials say, usually, only portions of a property will be closed to accommodate a prescribed fire, leaving large portions of the property unaffected. Signs will be posted and gates will be closed at all access points to project locations and adjacent landowners will be notified of the burns. The prescribed fire areas will be monitored until all fire, embers and smoke are extinguished before reopening to the public.

Officials say prescribed fires are expected to be conducted in the following counties and WMAs in the Eyewitness News coverage area:  

• Henderson County
  • Sloughs
• Ohio County and Muhlenberg County
  • Peabody
• Union County
  • Higginson-Henry
  • Big Rivers

The KDFWR explains prescribed fire is an efficient tool for habitat management. The management goals of the fires are to increase production of nuts and soft fruits and to enhance the regeneration of oaks. Burning sets back woody plant growth in fields and along edges, creates desirable open spaces on the ground’s surface by removing leaf litter, improves native grass and wildflower composition within fields and helps control invasive plants.