Ottawa County Parks will host a free “Learn and Burn” prescribed fire demonstration from noon to 3 pm Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Hemlock Crossing. 

The open-house event will give visitors an opportunity to safely observe a live prescribed fire while learning how and why fire is used as a land management tool. 

“Many of Michigan’s native habitats evolved with fire and still depend on it,” said Tyler Allyn-White, Stewardship Supervisor and MI DNR Certified Prescribed Burn Manager for Ottawa County Parks and Recreation. “Prescribed fire is carefully planned and managed to restore these habitats, reduce invasive plants, and encourage native plants to return from the seedbank.”

Participants may drop in throughout the afternoon to explore hands on stations, see tools and equipment, meet the Ottawa County Parks burn crew, and ask questions. 

Event schedule: 

• 12–12:30 pm: Information tables, Q&A with staff, and equipment demonstration
• 12:30–1 pm: Burn overview and crew briefing
• 1–2 pm: Live prescribed fire demonstration with real-time interpretation
• 2–3 pm: Information tables reopen, continued Q&A, and additional equipment demonstrations 

Because prescribed burns require specific weather conditions, the demonstration is weather dependent. If the event cannot take place on 9/23, the event will be rescheduled to 10/9.

Event details:

• Date: Wednesday, Sept. 23
  Backup date: Oct. 9
  
• Time: 12-3 pm 
• Location: Hemlock Crossing 
  8115 West Olive Road, West Olive 

Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4A00Sdj