Scheduled Burn Of Belle Isle Prairie Area

DETROIT (WWJ) - A prescribed burn of the prairie area adjacent to Blue Heron Lagoon at Belle Isle Park in the City of Detroit has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 13.

Blue Heron Lagoon is located at the northeast end of the island.

The objective of the burn is to reduce the stem and thatch density of invasive Common Reed, Purple Loosestrife and European Poplar.

The burn will improve the native wet prairie community, which requires periodic fire to regenerate herbaceous prairie species and reduce competition from woody vegetation.

At the direction of the Detroit Fire Marshal, an Open Burn Permit was obtained by JFNew Full-Service Ecological Solutions to conduct the prescribed burn.

The burn is a follow-up to the prescribed burns completed in April 2010. It was originally scheduled for Friday, but due to threats of rain, the burn is rescheduled for Wednesday, April 13.

In hopes of eliminating the high volume of calls to 911, authorities are asking residents not to be alarmed if they see smoke billowing from the Isle's direction.

For more information, contact the Fire Marshal Division at (313) 596-2929.