The Montezuma Wildlife Refuge announced Wednesday that two “prescribed burns” have been planned for the refuge this spring and summer.

In a prescribed burn, fire is used to manage vegetation, reduce wildfire fuel loads, and improve refuge habitats for wildlife. The refuge is planning burns sometime between April 17 and July 31, with each estimated to take about two to six hours to complete.

According to a news release from the wildlife refuge manager Thomas Jasikoff, specific weather and site conditions are required for each planned burn to control the extent and intensity the fire, manage smoke, and maintain the burn within planned limits.

The refuge is hoping that the required parameters will be met on at least a few days during the spring and summer. Specially trained refuge personnel and fire extinguishing equipment will be on hand to ignite and control the fire and to ensure public safety.

Prescribed burns are conducted annually on national wildlife refuge's and other public lands throughout the country. The two burns at Montezuma total about 64 acres and will be designed to reduce fuel loads to decrease the likelihood of wildfires. They are designed to maintain and enhance grassland nesting cover for many species of wildlife. By burning dead plant materials, nitrogen and other nutrients are released into the soil, providing nourishment for new plants. Fire removes part of the litter, or duff layer, exposing the soil so that germinating seeds can take root and grow.