Local fire departments are always alerted. Water is carried on two or three fire pickup trucks. Prior to settlers arriving in this area in the early 1800s, prairie fires were natural events, usually caused by lightning. But settlers considered fire the enemy, and fires were put out as quickly as possible. Research on the effects of burning began in the Arboretum in 1940, and as a result controlled burns have been viewed as an important part of prairie maintenance.
Fire basically controls cool-season plants such as blue grass and clover.
These plants are disadvantaged by fire. They are set back, and then the warm season prairie plants like big blue stem and little blue stem can thrive. The Arboretum field staff normally conducts eight to ten burns a season. The approximate dates are determined in an effort to control specific species. Then it's a matter of waiting for the right weather conditions.