100-Acre Prescribed Burn Scheduled In Dripping Springs

PFLUGERVILLE, TX -- Local fire officials will assist others in a prescribed burn of some 100 acres at Reimers Ranch Park in Dripping Springs this week.

The controlled burn in Dripping Springs will take place between 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and will take about three to four hours to complete. The fire will target live oak savannahs toward the aim of maintaining the plant community by removing shrubs, reducing the number of exotic species and enhancing the health and diversity of native plant life.

Members of the Pflugerville Fire Department will be joined by their counterparts from the Lake Travis Fire Rescue, Pedernales Fire Department, LBJ Wildflower Center, Texas Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife.

The fire can take place regardless of wind direction, officials note.

However, predicted southerly winds are expected to carry the smoke to the north across portions of the park and communities in that region. This includes the Pedernales Canyon subdivision.

Officials said impact should be relatively light and of a short duration.

Some portions of the park are expected to remain open during the prescribed burn. But some areas, particularly along the multi-use trail, may be closed for all or part of the weekend.

Reimers Ranch Park is located at: 23610 Hamilton Pool Rd. in Dripping Springs. Last month, the various fire units participated in a similar burn at Pace Bend Park 22 miles southeast of Austin.