Fire can bring life to land. This group helps homeowners safely control the burn

Burning off unwanted vegetation on your land takes a lot more planning than just lighting a match. That’s why Johnson County K-State Research and Extension recently held a class outlining all the basics of prescribed burning.

The Extension team has held this type of class before, partnering with Johnson County Parks & Recreation. Attendees typically fall into two groups: people who want to volunteer to help with parks department burns and those who have a larger piece of private land they’re trying to manage.

Amy Keigher, natural resources agent for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension, enjoys teaching people how to safely burn.

“I think it’s kind of fun, and it’s what makes the prairie possible,” Keigher said. “We are in the tallgrass prairie area, so it’s fascinating how it works.”

Various guest speakers outlined the different steps and precautions to take burning on property. That includes getting the appropriate permits and making a fire plan to account for all safety measures to prevent the fire from spreading uncontrolled. And, of course, that plan includes keeping everyone safe.

These classes are integral in fire prevention and mitigation, said Luke Berning, a fuels specialist with the Kansas Forest Service.

“It’s so much better when we can get hands-on experience,” he said. “Johnson County has a rocking program on prescribed fires.”

Although burning is not something you’ll be able to do if you’re on a quarter of an acre in a subdivision, Keigher said that you also don’t need to have a massive amount of land to do it.

“You don’t have to be an 80-acre land owner to do this,” she said. “This is really for someone who has pasture or grassland they’re managing or some of our larger parks that we have like Prairie Center, where they’ve got quite a bit of land, not a lot of houses and structures around.”

The conditions have to be just right to have a safe burn. Temperature, humidity and more all play into fire science.

Organizers had planned a hands-on experience with burning at Shawnee Mission Park for a recent class, but the wind was slightly too strong and blowing in a direction that would send smoke toward a few schools, so part of the class was postponed.

“Prescribed burns in this area and throughout the Midwest, they’re used to prevent woody encroachment, and also recycle nutrients to the soil. Burning is good, but it needs to be done safely,” she said.

Timing is important, not just for safety but also in making sure the burn accomplishes what you want it to do. Spring and fall are the most popular times for burns.

“Let’s say your goal is more wildflowers,” she said. “You’re going to want to burn at a time when your cool season grasses, maybe they’re getting a little bit too strong. You’re going to burn when your wildflowers haven’t started yet.”

Attendees were happy with the knowledge they gained as part of the class.

“It’s great information — very practical. I feel I have the confidence to tackle fire on my own land,” said Lindsay Evans, of Gardner.

Olathe resident Chris Lengquist found the safety guidelines valuable.

He learned one of his plans would be the opposite of what the pros would recommend.

“It’s good to hear from people who deal with it every day,” he said.

Burning isn’t the only thing you can learn about via the Extension service’s classes and programs.

Coming up on Thursday is a class on how to make a birdhouse with leftover dried gourds from your Halloween decorations. Numerous cooking classes also help make up the slate of fall and winter courses, including a kids’ gingerbread workshop Saturday and pie-baking for adults on Nov. 16.

Some classes are free, while others have associated fees. For more information on any of the classes or to register for a class, go here.