The Kent Fire Department partnered with Kent State to carry out its annual controlled burn of the 10-acre prairie near the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
This springtime tradition has been a key part of the university’s sustainable land management strategy since 2004. Controlled burns are an effective way to manage land while supporting environmental health. In many natural prairies, fire is a natural part of the landscape’s life cycle, and controlled burns provide a safe way to mimic those natural processes.
“This burn is part of a sustainable approach to land management on campus. It reduces maintenance needs and supports native plant growth,” said Rebekka Berryhill, Kent State’s grounds manager and the lead organizer of the event.
The burn helps the protected prairie thrive by eliminating invasive species, enriching the soil and promoting plant diversity. The nutrient-rich, blackened soil left behind absorbs more sunlight, warming the ground and encouraging grass to regenerate more quickly with rising temperatures.
“It’s like a phoenix rising from the ashes,” Berryhill said.
Captain Shawn Baynes of the Kent Fire Department said there is a practical process behind the event. The fire is carefully monitored as it moves with the wind, allowing it to spread evenly while staying under control. The flames travel quickly across the field, making the entire process efficient and relatively short.
“We do this every year. It’s something with this prairie grass, it needs to be burned off so it can regerminate,” Baynes said. “This year, it’s pretty dry, so the wind is helping us a lot. It’ll blow through pretty quick.”
Without extensive firefighting tools like drip torches, the team uses flares to ignite and backlight the area. “We don’t do a ton of this, so we just use flares,” Baynes added. “This will take us maybe a little less than an hour.”
Kent State fire and safety coordinator Vern Ellis assists with coordination between the university and the Environmental Protection Agency. Ellis noted the long-term ecological benefits of the practice.
“Once this burn is done, the grass comes back better and gives more of a habitat for wildlife, and it saves the university from having to maintain the area the same way they would a lawn,” Ellis said.
The fire department emphasized that safety remains the top priority. The burn only takes place under favorable weather conditions and if there are no active emergency calls. If conditions change, the event is postponed and rescheduled.
By reducing the need for mowing, weed control and chemical fertilizers, the prairie saves the university time and money while helping meet its broader sustainability goals.
David Williams is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].