Parklands refined by fire

ByMatthew Crane Reading Time: 4 minutes

After the success of the prescribed burns in 2024, Jasper Park and Recreation expanded the program to help native species thrive in the city’s largest park.

Wednesday, city employees and firefighters worked together to conduct a large prescribed fire in three areas of The Parklands. The forecast forced them to adjust the schedule as wind directions were expected to change, but the park reopened to the public at 5 p.m. with the project completed.

Parks employee Matt Fleck fills the drip cans with a mixture of diesel and gasoline that will be used to set the fire along the edges of the designated burn areas. –Photos by Matt Crane.
Olivia Fry, a wildlife biologist with Pheasants/Quail Forever, discusses the burn plan with park employees and firefighters before it begins. Olivia wrote the burn plan for last year’s smaller burn as well as the one held on Wednesday. Through her job, Olivia helps to maintain habitat to support the objectives of Pheasants/Quail Forever, a national nonprofit. Olivia became involved after hosting Prairie Walks in The Parklands and seeing the need for the burns. She offered to write the burn plan and get it approved so The Parklands can see more native growth and a healthier habitat.
The drip torches have wands that allow the mixture to drip and catch fire as they land on the brush. Matt Fleck and Steve Hall would walk the perimeter setting the fire that was then directed into the larger burn area.
Steve Hall sets the area on fire west of the bridge in The Parklands as park employees and director Tom Moorman watch for fire in the blocks created earlier this week.
The burns help reduce the invasive flora and remove the thatch created by the annual mowing of the meadows in The Parklands. Removing the thatch allows seeds from the preferred flora to reach the soil and creates a more robust habitat. The seeds from the native flowers and plants have already fallen and can withstand the fire. The burn also reveals the patches of unwanted flora that can then be treated with herbicides individually.
Firefighter Austin Schmidt uses a flapper to knock down any flames that escape the burn area. Firefighter Trace Weidenbenner follows behind him.
Firefighter Cody Kreilein used a blower to spread fire through the burn area. Firefighters also use blowers like this to fight field fires.
The burn areas for this year’s activities ran adjacent to 15th Street, a large area east of the parking lot including the switchback trail leading to the highest point in the park and a smaller area west of the green bridge.

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