Sedgwick County firefighters are setting fires at the Sedgwick County Zoo on Monday, April 7th, and also some blazes at Sedgwick County Park in W. Wichita.
These will be prescribed fires to burn off overgrowth and weeds at 14 sites at the zoo and the park.
“Using prescribed fire is a secure, efficient and economical approach to native land management that reduces fuel buildup and lowers the threat of wildfires,” Sedgwick County said in a news release.
The fires will be between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. unless the wind is in excess of 15 miles an hour; the burning will be moved to a different day if the wind is strong.
The fire department will have multiple vehicles and more than a dozen firefighters controlling the flames. Once the fires are out, crews will watch for hot spots until dusk to ensure nothing rekindles.
Sedgwick County Fire District 1 is coordinating with zoo and park employees. The park and zoo will remain open for visitors, but barricades will keep them away from the burn sites.
The county will post signs, including electronic traffic signs at the zoo and park entrances, notifying residents.
People with allergies or asthma who live near the zoo or the park are advised to stay indoors and shut their windows.