UM-Dearborn Conducting Controlled Burns Tuesday

DEARBORN, MI — The University of Michigan-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center, with the support of the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), is planning to conduct a prescribed (controlled) burn in the campus Environmental Study Area (ESA), today, Tuesday, April 23.

An experienced burn crew will conduct the burn, beginning at 1:30 p.m., which is expected to last for about one half hour. Representatives from the UM-Dearborn Police Department and the Dearborn Fire Department have been involved in the planning process and will be present during the burn.

The specific area to be targeted is a prairie garden just north of the Rose Garden Pond within the ESA.

The Fair Lane Estate also will be conducting a prescribed burn today, approximately 900 feet southeast from the ESA prescribed burn location and 150 feet from Fairlane Drive. The same vendor and procedures are being used for both prescribed burn events.

Access to the Rose Garden Pond area during this time will be restricted to authorized burn personnel only.

Fire is an important land management tool and part of a critical regenerative process for fire-adapted prairie habitat. Many areas treated with fire have significantly more blooming wildflowers and native grasses in the following years. In addition, fire helps us control many of the exotic invasive plants that are reducing the native biodiversity in natural areas.