The City of Denton Fire Department (DFD) has announced a series of controlled burns scheduled to take place next week to improve the health of local prairies and control invasive species. According to a social media post by the City of Denton Fire Department, the prescribed burns will occur at three separate locations on consecutive days starting tomorrow through Thursday.
Tomorrow, a 16-acre area on the north side of the northern lake at North Lakes Park will undergo a burn between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., resulting in trail closures; Wednesday's prescribed fire will cover 13 acres at UNT Discovery Park, spanning the same hours and on Thursday a larger, 46-acre burn is set for the Burch Property, now municipal land, near the intersection of 377/Vintage. Each of these burns marks the first time these native pollinative prairies will experience such treatment, which is designed to facilitate wildflower re-seeding and reduce non-native plant species.
The DFD is working closely with Parks and the University of North Texas Environmental Sciences in carrying out the burns, and they've taken several measures to mitigate the impact on surrounding communities. "Door-to-door notices have been handed out in the Discovery Park neighborhood," thus they informed the residents of Nicosia and Crisoforo of forthcoming activities, articulated Battalion Chief David Boots, DFD Wildland Coordinator, per the City of Denton Fire Department. Also, efforts to coordinate with Animal Services have shaped the planning, as burns are slated for late morning when southeasterly winds are expected to direct smoke away from the nearby animal shelter and residents.
