Comstock Township completed its first-ever prescribed burn at Robert Morris Park this spring, and the results were largely positive, with another burn already planned for later this year. The Township’s ordinance officer, who led the burn, presented a detailed report to the Parks and Recreation Commission at its June 8 meeting.
What a Prescribed Burn Does
A prescribed burn is a controlled, planned fire used to manage vegetation and improve ecological conditions. The fire clears accumulated leaf litter, dead brush, and invasive plants from the forest floor, while returning carbon to the soil. This is a process that benefits certain tree species, including pine, which naturally rely on periodic fire. The practice is used by land managers across Michigan to maintain healthy ecosystems in parks and natural areas.
How the Burn Went
The burn covered nine units across Robert Morris Park, encompassing a mix of tall grass areas and pine stands. Conditions on the day of the burn included temperatures around 48–49 degrees, wind speeds of 17 miles per hour with gusts up to 30 mph, and no chance of precipitation.
The ordinance officer reported that about 70–80% of the targeted burn area was successfully treated and indicated it was a solid result for a first burn in an area that had never been burned before and had accumulated several centimeters of leaf litter on the ground. Units in the pine stand areas burned well; the grass sections were wetter and more difficult to move through, but still saw meaningful coverage.
The fire incidentally cleared a number of poison ivy patches and reduced the presence of garlic mustard, an invasive species. The burn also revealed a rotted tree that had appeared healthy from the outside, which will be felled in the future.
One pine tree briefly torched during the burn appeared to be a loss, but a follow-up check one week later showed new growth coming in, indicating the tree survived and that the fire had actually burned off an existing infection.
Wildlife returned to the burn area the same night. Deer and coyotes were spotted in the park within 24 hours of the burn’s completion.
What Comes Next
The ordinance officer recommended a follow-up burn in late summer or early fall of this year to treat the wetter sections that didn’t fully burn in the spring. He noted that some remaining litter needs to be cleared before the full condition of the burn units can be assessed.
Looking further ahead, he told the commission that prescribed burns at Robert Morris Park would likely be needed once a year or every other year, depending on how the vegetation responds over time. The frequency will be evaluated as the park works toward a healthier baseline condition.
The commission thanked the ordinance officer for his work on the project.
