2026 Prescribed Burns in District 19

The Program

The Parks and Engineering Divisions are again collaborating to coordinate volunteers, notify the public, and apply for a permit to conduct prescribed burns at various locations throughout the City. Prescribed burns are safe, cost effective, and ecologically appropriate for maintaining populations of native species and their habitat. 

Postcards are being mailed this month to residences adjacent to sites where burns will occur.  As you can see, it directs people to this link for a list of sites and addresses: cityofmadison.com/prescribedburns

Image credit: Madison Parks Department

Burns are conducted by trained and experienced staff, contractors, and volunteers under a permit from the Madison Fire Department.  Burns only occur within strict weather parameters that limit the intensity of the fire and prevent smoke from creating a hazard to the public. 

Because burns are so weather dependent, they cannot be scheduled in advance.  Instead, Parks and Engineering select which sites to burn next based on the most current weather forecast.  Subtle changes in wind direction or humidity determine what options we have on a given day, so we can only reliably plan out a few days in advance.  Generally, a series of days with relative humidity below 50% will bring us a window of opportunity.  Then wind direction determines which sites we can burn with minimal direct impacts due to smoke.

If anyone has questions or would like more information, they can contact Hannah Quinlan, the Parks Department Conservation Resource Supervisor by emailing hquinlan@cityofmadison.com.

District 19 Sites