This is why burns commonly are done every 3-5 years. The burn also helps release the nutrients in the dead vegetation so it can be used by the new growth. The blackened soil heats up fast by absorbing solar energy, thus stimulating speedy seed germination, sprouting and growth. Burning also helps in controlling shrubs that are invading into the prairie. Without burning, many of the prairies would eventually turn in forests.
Prairies are an important part of the ecosystem.
Prairies have an abundance of plants, insects, birds, mammals, and reptiles, many of these found only in prairies. Warm season grass prairies provide excellent cover for wildlife because they hold up better under severe winds, snow, etc. The grasses and forbs also provide seed and nectar for insects, butterflies, birds, and small mammals. But to get these benefits, fire must occur to restore the prairie.