Travis County Parks plans to conduct multiple prescribed burns on the Pruitt Tract near East Metropolitan Park the week of February 28, 2022.
The prescribed burns will include both broadcast and pile burns that will occur between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day. The burns will only be conducted on days with the appropriate weather and are expected to occur Wednesday through Friday.
Travis County Parks is conducting the prescribed burns in cooperation with personnel from the local fire departments and natural resource agencies.
The prescribed burns are intended to reduce wildfire danger and improve ecosystem health. The pile burns are being conducted to remove heavy volumes of fuel and will be followed by routine prescribed burns in the future.
Southerly wind directions are anticipated which will carry the fire to the north over East Metro Park and communities located west of Blake Manor Road. Smoke will be present for much of the day but it is expected to be relatively light.
Minimal impacts are expected at East Metropolitan Park. The Park is expected to remain open during the burn.
Travis County is currently under a burn ban. Burn bans limit certain types of fire use in order to minimize the potential for accidental fires and to reduce the impact fires have on emergency responders. Burn bans do not limit all fire use (cooking, welding, etc.), and many activities are allowed with certain restrictions. Prescribed burn managers conduct prescribed burns during burn bans because conditions are favorable for meeting established objectives. Land managers, regulators and emergency responders coordinate the implementation of the prescribed burns.
The Pruitt Tract is located at 8600 Burleson Manor Road, Manor, TX 78653.
Media note: Please call the PIO (contact listed below) or check in at the park fee booth for additional information.
- Hector Nieto, Travis County PIO, 956-251-2902
- Glen Gillman, Park Land Manager, 512-844-7480
