Burning with a Purpose

Eight miles west of Highway 281 on Highway 46 lies Guadalupe River State Park and Honey Creek State Natural Area; gems in our backyard. The 1,938-acre State Park and adjoining 2,294-acre State Natural Area (SNA) comprise more than 4,200 contiguous acres of Hill Country habitat. While many of us may not have taken the opportunity yet to visit these parks, they did grab the attention of local residents in Februarywhen the Park conducted a prescribed burning. This type of burning happens every few years, so we’d like to share more information on the procedure.

What is a prescribed burning?

A prescribed burning is a management tool widely used by foresters, parks departments, range and wildlife managers, ranchers and other landowners to manage excessive natural fuels under very specific and safe conditions.

Who regulates this process?

The Prescribed Burning Board (PBB) sets standards for prescribed burning and develops comprehensive training curriculum for the certification of prescribed burn managers. Working closely with the Department of Agriculture, the PBB sets standards for the certification, renewal, and training of certified and insured prescribed burn managers and instructors. Certified and insured prescribed burn managers help to manage, maintain and restore valuable ecosystems in Texas.Representatives of state agencies or institutions of higher education are chosen or appointed by the agency that they represent. Private landowners are appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture.

When should prescribed burnings occur?

As a general rule, about 20% of upland woodland sites should be prescribed burned during late November through February on a rotational basis, burning each site every 5-6 years to remove old growth and stimulate new growth of browse and forbs. In order to have enough low level fuel to produce a hot fire, one or two years of cattle exclusion from wooded tracts may be necessary to allow growth of vegetation normally grazed by cattle.About one-third of native grass openings should be prescribe burned each year, burning each site every three years, on a rotating basis. This removes accumulated dead grass litter and controls young, invasive woody species such as cedar and persimmon.

What does a prescribed burning accomplish?

The primary purpose of prescribed burns on Texas Parks & Wildlife Department(TPWD) lands is to utilize fire as an ecological process and simulate the effects of natural fire events. The application of fire fulfills numerous management objectives including reduction of excessive fuel loads, increased herbaceous species and available browse, control of invasive species, increasing species diversity and richness, and facilitation of the long-term objectives for natural habitat and community restoration and maintenance.

How is Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS involved?

In the case of the Honey Creek SNA, TPWD staff notifies us of the burning, but our personnel are not active participants. We do offer resources, such as a Tender truck for water, if requested. We also stand ready to respond should the burn reach an uncontrolled state. The prescribed burning events do provide an opportunity for our firefighters to complete required hours for wildland fire training for those with that certification.

Prescribed burning is one land management practice that can be used to restore the natural balance of ecosystems in a safe and calculated way, while also reducing wildfire risk. These burnings ensure we are managing our lands in a way that will actually rejuvenate wildlife habitat, provide control of invasive brush, and improve watersheds.