Another Knoll Park Restortion Fire Planned

Fairhope, Alabama 

Knoll Park today.

 

2015 controlled burn.

FIRST IN 4 YEARS

The Times has learned that a controlled burn of the city's Knoll Park is to occur soon, whenever weather conditions permit (wind direction, moisture).

Periodic burns are a part of the overall park maintenance plan approved by the city council in 2014. 

"Prescribed fire is a safe way to apply a natural process that benefits various habitats and ensures ecosystem health. Wildlife habitat and animals such as deer, turkeys, and quail flourish in areas that are maintained with prescribed fire. Some rare animals such as the red-cockaded woodpecker and the gopher tortoise require fire-adapted habitats to survive. Prescribed burning is also an effective tool to reduce the risk of wildfire, which can be disastrous to both humans and wildlife.

In Alabama, prescribed burns can be safely conducted throughout the year. Cool season burns are used to reduce forest litter and to help prevent forest fires. Growing season burns, often used to control the choking underbrush in a stand of mature trees, are conducted from early spring to late summer.

One of the primary uses for prescribe burning is the maintenance of wildlife habitat. Controlled burning helps to rejuvenate high quality natural food sources for many species including white-tailed deer and Eastern wild turkey. The burning of undergrowth can release nutrients into the soil which stimulates the growth of high-quality native grasses, forbs and legumes. Unlike most supplemental wildlife plantings, controlled burning can provide year-round protective cover and food for wildlife on managed land."

The longleaf pine forest restoration project was begun there in 2014 and controlled burns are a vital part of the natural ecosystem restoration process; the last one was in 2019.

Since retired volunteer forester Patrick Waldrop, who had conducted previous burns, has moved away, the city has hired a fire manger this time, we were told.

As before neighbors will be notified ahead of time and firefighters standing by whenever it occurs.

Ideally, the controlled burns should be held about every two years to encourage growth of native plants and reduce invasive species, which have virtually taken over the park today.

Longleaf pine forests dominated the region at one time; only a fraction remain today. Another such restoration is planned for a small portion the city's new Triangle Park along Fly Creek.

 

 

Knoll Park plan.