HOUSTON — Texas Parks and Wildlife planned a prescribed fire at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Thursday.
The goal of the fires was to protect the surrounding park and neighborhoods from the kind of wildfires seen burning all over Texas.
“We’re trying to help maintain that ecosystem, which would have historically had fire and large grazers to keep it in this grassland state," said Christine Mansfield who works with the Houston Arboretum.
Mansfield said intentionally setting fires is a healthier option than mowing the three acres of meadow, and destroying flammable vegetation at the park won’t just protect nature but also homes and businesses nearby.
“They’ll create lines with fire to make it so that fire can’t continue past a certain area," said Mansfield. “We’re basically setting a fire to prevent future fires.”
"Years of vegetation accumulation presents a significant wildland fire threat to the surrounding residential community. The reduction of fuel load, through a prescribed fire, is the appropriate safety step in protecting surrounding residents and their homes," HFD said in a release.
Firefighters will perform and oversee the fire and will also coordinate with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Houston Health Department to make sure there is no air impact.
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Smoke could be seen in the area and HFD is asking residents who live near the burn site to avoid calling 911. Drivers are being told to reduce speed and use headlights when smoke is present.
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